It has been a long time since I have not needed to rush out and buy fly spray and gear. My previous horse Spring Break AKA Snooky (Salle Francis x thoroughbred cross, and NO, I don't watch the Jersey Shore) was allergic to flies. Every year it was a battle we waged. Fly spray, fly sheet, fly hood, fly boots, fly pants (yes, pants), fly mask and even fly predators. She would go through 2 bottle of fly spray a month, and with her light coat and thin skin she was always getting chewed up. My first Mustang Ehawee isn't bothered by flies one bit, but she gets a fly mask and fly sprayed as needed. Opal is following in Ehawee's fly treatment footprints.
We have not had to use much fly spray this year, in fact I have not polished off one whole bottle this season. Mostly because its always windy or breezy, so the flies have not been bad....unless we don't get wind. Then they are all up in your face. BUZZZ BUZZZ BUZZZ! Argh! Pesky flies, meet fly spray and leave us alone. Now horses being introduced to fly spray don't mind the the actual fly repellent, its the spray sound and something tickling them. Ehawee is NOT a fan of the spray sound. I needed to give Opal some relief before our ride. I started spraying away form her, letting her hear it first. No worries on her end so I went right on spraying her whole body, minus the head.
We had a smooth ride. I have been sliding on her back via a mounting block not using the stirrups. I have been slowly putting some weight into the stirrups each time I mounted, but on this day, I put my foot up in them and settled right into the saddle. A few moments after mounting, I needed to dismount to adjust the tack. Using the mounting block and stirrups again. Opal didn't seem phased. Have I mentioned how much I love her mind?
All tacked up, ready to go.
Day 37:
Opal's hooves before the trim.
Opal has a pretty big day. Its her first hoof trim since coming home form BLM. She was letting me hold her front feet for about 5 seconds, how would she do with getting her feet done? Part of the problem I have had up to this point is I don't always have someone with me who could hold her while I mess with her feet. We have a wonderful farrier who trims our domestics and mustangs. He's really good with spending time with them, working with them, but getting what he can done as well with what the newly gentled horses will let him.
I had Opal in the round pen to give her some room to move but keep her confined as well. We started with her front feet. Opal is more willing on her left side vs her right. We managed to get all her feet trimmed, but it took about 40 minutes. It took 3-4 attempts of just letting her know it was ok to have her foot held, and 2-3 tries to fully trim, clean, and rasp each hoof. She would occasionally stomp her foot in frustration. I would just talk to her, rub her face, and let her know she was ok. She gave one kick with her hind leg, but a quit form the both of us stopped her from keeping that behavior up.
After she was done, I gave her carrots and some alfalfa for a pretty good first time around.
Once again, Opal and I were riding in the arena with another rider and horse (Greg and Amigo). I've been digging around in my plethora of tubs of tack looking for bits. I find it hard to put into words other than Opal just doesn't feel 'right' in the two bits I've tried so far. I expect some resistance as she is learning, and its not even that...its like tough silly puddy...and not that shes pulling against my hands, she's not even close to leaning on them. It's just kind of blech. I found a hackamore in my stash and wanted to give that a try. She responds very well to the halter....maybe this would be it for her. I got it all fitted to her at the tie pole and then it was time to ride.
Opal was a champ in that she really tried....but she hated the hackamore. I ended up spending most of the time using the lead line to the halter to help steer her or halt her. At the end of our ride, Greg and Amigo were also finishing up. Opal wanted to say hi to her friend Amigo.....and sweet talk Greg out of some treats. Opal likes being right next to me, but we are working on minding our space...but she will still reach her head out for loves.
I know you have carrots.
Day 35:
A beautiful day today. Recently we had a big fire near the ranch, 20 miles away give or take. We didn't have to evacuate, but we were ready to receive animals if needed. Fire is now no longer a threat, but it got me thinking. Opal hasn't been back in the horse trailer since she came home mid-June. Would she willingly go in?
If you don't recall, at the BLM facility she came from, they put her in a chute and we backed the trailer up to it, then she was 'encouraged' into the trailer. The process works for all involved with the un-gentled horses, but horse trailers look like something scary. Caves.....and what exactly lives in caves? Predators. Lots of horses aren't exactly on board with loading into big scary caves. Opal trailered well form BLM, but would she go back in?
Opal entering the trailer at Litchfield BLM facility in June this year.
Not having my own rig to work with, I had to wait and coordinate a day when the rig would be hooked up and not in use. Today was my lucky day. Armed with my clicker, a pocket full of carrots and alfalfa in the trailer, I was determined to get her in. Except Opal surprised me. No sooner had I opened the trailer door, she was ready to walk right in! I gave her a pat, stepped on up, and she followed suit. Lots of praise and loves. We walked out, and back in....and out and back in. Each time she spent longer and longer standing in the trailer. I would close the divider on her, step outside the trailer, walk back in, mess with the lead line, and so on. Never once did she resist or become tense. In fact, after I was done, she spent the rest of the day trying to pull me back to the trailer!
In we go!
Next we got tacked up and I put another bit on for her, one that was rubber. I started ground driving her to help direct her around the arena. We had a few bobbles, but all in all she did really good. After her 10-15 minutes of ground driving, it was time to ride. Sarah was on her horse Gypsy (Opal's pasture mate and resident alpha mare of their 'herd'. We played follow the leader. Gypsy and Sarah lead, Opal followed. I relied on my legs to get her going and to guide her, but when that wasn't working, I turned to the reins. She was much more responsive, even in her halts! (Someday we won't need reins to halt, but that's a ways off right now) We rode at a walk for about 20 minutes, then stood in the arena at a halt watching Gypsy and Sarah work. She stood very well and only wanted to walk off over to the rail because someone else walked up to it and Opal wanted a carrot. (Yes, I know, she's driven by food, but she only gets so many baby carrots a session, the rest is the clicker. It works for her right now) Opal was also brave enough to drink from buckets with her bit in today, another first! (yay, I won't have to un-tack her on trails to get her to drink. I've known 'those' horses) Opal is also getting use to carrying all the gear back on her saddle at the end of our ride. I don't always have my horses carry things back. If they have been good, a lot of time I'll un-tack them in the ring and let them go right there. Opal is still getting use to it all, so for now, she carries stuff.
Today's ride. Opal also likes nudging the phone as I take a picture.
With Opal's session finished, I turned her loose to graze and went to help others working on the trailer with their horses. Opal was right there checking thing out, but minding her own business and keeping her distance. One of the horses, Whiskey, was finished practicing and his owner Yvette turned him loose to graze. Now Whiskey is normally mellow, energy saving kind of guy, but he does like to show off for the mares. Well, he decided to kick up his heels and take off at a gallop right past Opal. She looked up at him, then back at me with a look that said "What on earth was THAT all about Mom?" Then she went on her merry way grazing.
Arriving later in the afternoon due to preschool (yay! I have a few hours to clean and shop in the morning without a mini-me undoing my work) several other people were already at the ranch riding or having finished riding. Being a warm day, we were hosing off their horses after their rides. This left lots of puddles in the grass. Last I worked on Opal walking through puddles, she wasn't exactly 100% on board with it, so it was a perfect opportunity to try again. With a pocket full of carrots and her halter we tackled the puddles. There was one difference this time, she didn't even stop to look at them, just followed me right along. 'Sure Mom, I'll get my feet wet, no big deal.'
Water isn't as scary as I thought it was.
We also tacked up for a ride during a lesson I was giving one of my riders, Angie. Her Dad was watering down the arena when I entered. I walked Opal over to the water, made her walk through the spray a few times. Finally I walked Opal over to the hose and let her explore it. She was having a very good time with the water.
Water play.
We walked around the arena for a bit before I dismounted and had her stand with me while the lesson finished. She's getting better about standing with nothing being asked of her.
Day 33:
With 3 days being ridden last week and Opal being a star, she earned a day of just grazing and having fun with her pasture mates turned out Sunday. On my way home I noticed smoke on the mountain about 15 miles from the ranch. Well, that fire had a lot of fuel and quickly took off. Some 3,000 acres later its nearly contained. Since we had room for some animals at the ranch and we were out of the fire and smoke's paths, several of us spent the early part of the week making preparations to receive evacuated horses if needed. It never came to that and the fire is nearly out now. We didn't have to deal with the smoke much either, except for a little bit yesterday due to the wind.
Yesterday, September 10, was day 33 of training for Opal. We didn't accomplish much due to a little situation that happened. We started out showing Opal my daughter's new clubhouse for out at the barn. Opal was more than curious, but didn't care too much about what was going on inside it. She loves kids.
Hey there kid, what are you doing?
We've all been told to be aware of our surroundings when working with horses. Keep your eyes up and ears open. This is one of those times I wasn't thinking about where I was, but where I was going.
I was going to my tack room to get Opal's halter so we could ride. I stopped by Opal, who was next to the round pen, and gave her some pats as I was walking by. I walked away after a few moments petting her over. I had her on my right, round pen on my right. Next I heard the sound of thundering hooves and just as I looked behind me to see what was going on, Opal was on top of me being chased away but another horse that was turned out. I hit the ground and covered my head knowing 1,200 pounds was just behind me. I saw a flash of Opal's hooves up in the air as she reared up over me and then turned on her haunches to run the opposite way away from me. Aside from a headache yesterday I walked away unharmed.
Now before anyone gets a chance to jump all over the horses know this:
1) my bad for putting myself in a situation where there was no room for me to get away.
2) I'm Opal's security, but in running from this other horse she wasn't watching where I was but watching who was chasing her and heading in my direction, and she threw on the breaks to get away form me and not harm me. This is something you can not teach a horse, either they will avoid hurting you when things go bad, or they won't....she did.
3) I willingly take these risks (and more) working horses, especially young ones, and I will continue to do so.
Now, in the past I've been harmlessly teased about lounging with a helmet, walking around the ranch with one on while not riding, tacking up with it on my head, ect. Usually its just me leaving it on my head between rides. I'll tell you now the first thought in my head after I got up was 'the one time I didn't get my helmet out yet'. My helmet has saved this brain of mine more times than I care to count, so I'll keep on riding with it....and wearing it around the ranch.....and lounging with it.
With Opal having such a great day previously, and since my whole family invaded my house for the weekend, I thought it would be a good time for them to meet her and for them to meet her. Meeting 6 new people at once, two of them being kids younger than my daughter would be good for her. Plus my Mom and sister Stephanie had a hand in me choosing her, so they should at least get to see her once in a while. We aren't exactly a block away from each other up here. Opal haltered with ease and had no issue standing, being touched and loved on by others, especially when she got carrots. I lounged her for a bit so they could see her move out. Everyone seemed to really like her, and I think she liked them. Easy day for her :) Day 30: With my family having packed everything up and headed for their home, I could spend the afternoon with my girls. I pulled out my bungee rope I use at the hitching post by my tack room. Opal has been held by me while tacking up and has been doing pretty good at standing mostly still. It's more cross-tie length, but gives plenty of slack for mew ones learning to stand. Opal was more than happy to stand and graze while I brushed her down and tacked her up. She didn't mind at all, and I wasn't tip-toeing around putting the saddle on. I tacked her up like I would a horse who has done it a million times. She never batted an eye. She's still not thrilled about having the bridle put on with my arm between her ears, so I still am having to approach that from the front, but it will come in time.
Standing at the pole.
Next I lounged her. I wanted to see how easily she would lope for me. (ok, yes, yes I know. In most of my videos I use the 'english' terms for the gaits walk, trot, canter vs. the 'western' walk, jog, lope. I've been riding my whole life. Western until I was 11, English dressage 12-14, hunter/jumpers 14-present. Some habits are hard to kick) With a little encouragement she picked up both her leads for a few strides. It proves a bit of a challenge to lounge her, encourage her forward, and video at the same time....maybe I need a helmet cam? lol
A bit of a lope.
I then needed to teach a lesson with Angie and her horse Tesoro. I walked Opal over to the arena so she could see what all the fuss was about. She stood there and watched Tesoro go around and around. During the lesson she stayed right with me as I walked around coaching Angie. Both horses did well.
Sometimes training means standing there and not doing much of anything.
After the lesson I took Opal out for a new group shot of my girls, and to remind her of what weight on her back felt like.
My girls.
Opal had been doing so well, I decided to just go for it and jump in the saddle. What's the worse that can happen.....I get tossed? I tell my riders if that's your biggest concern, we need to rethink riding. It comes with the territory, it's never fun, it always hurts - especially as you get older :X - but you always learn from it. Some of my best learned lessons come from hitting the ground, and the reason I know when to bail now is because of all those falls.
I walked Opal over to the mounting block and got right on. I have not yet put my foot in the stirrup and stepped up yet, but I will soon. I did, however, have to lean over and twist my stirrups to get my foot in them. They aren't the original to this saddle and are a bit big, but they work for now. Opal simply turned her head to see what I was doing and nudged my shoe. I gave her a squeeze and asked her to walk....nothing...gave her a few taps with my heel and asked her to walk....nothing...she turned to nudge my foot and looked at me saying "I don't get it, what do you want?" Third time I gave a little more of a kick and told her to walk and she took 3 steps. I gave her a pat and phrased her. By the end of our ride we rode one whole lap around the arena. She wasn't 100% clear about what to do with the bit, or why I was squeezing her at first, but we made one lap. She did want to stop at the gate to go out with her pasture mates who were grazing, but I made her go past it before getting off of her and turning her out to play. Second time on her back, first time without being lead by someone else, and she had zero tension in her body as we walked around. I'm amazed by this girl.
Mario (the Father of Angie who I give lessons to) was able to snag this video and a few pictures of our ride. Of course the wind kicked up as I was riding....it has been doing this to me for months now, it has become a running joke at the barn. If its windy out, I'm most likely on my way there at that exact moment. I apologize for the wind tunnel sound effects, you might want to turn the volume down before playing it ;)
First solo ride.
Day 31:
Another sunny day, perfect for horsing around. Opal stood wonderful at the tie pole to be tacked up. Even when the three two year olds who were turned out came snooping around to investigate. They thought they were going to push her around, I quickly told them otherwise. No one messes with this Alpha Mare ;) Plus if I had not stepped in, Opal would have done something about it, and I didn't really want a big fight at the tie pole.
Standing like a champ.
While Opal lounged well in the egg butt snaffle, she just didn't seem thrilled with it while riding. Granted, she doesn't know much about whats going on, but something kept me thinking it wasn't the right bit right now. I swapped out the egg butt snaffle for a copper full cheek snaffle with a curb chain. She fussed with this bit in her mouth much less than the other. I lounged her for a few minutes before walking over to the arena to ride. I settled into the saddle again and began to walk around. We made several half laps both directions today, and she seemed to respond better with this bit. She even backed at one point. She was still a bit resistant at times, and I'm not sure if it was because I was asking her to go away form her friends who were grazing outside the arena or the bit, or both. Next ride I'll turn them out after I work her. Once again she was calm about having me on her back and had to problem strolling around the arena.
My riding shots from today.
Marialaina, who owns Kickin' Back Ranch where my horses are boarded at, came out to watch her ride. She took a couple videos while she was at it.
We have lots of work ahead of us, but I'm encouraged by the progress she is making. My daughter loves spending time out at the barn as well. I don't think there is an animal there she doesn't love, but I think Raider, the donkey, might just be her favorite. He's a wonderful boy and loves the kids.
