Category: Other “Stuff”

Dino is Trail AND Kid Friendly

Kels cantering Dino
Kels &  Dino

I always hoped that one day Kelsey could ride Tucson (my previous horse), I figured when he was in his 20’s and she was in her early teens, he would calm down enough for a kid to ride him. Well, he never did get “kid friendly.” So, that dream probably never was going to come true. That is why I am so happy to see that Dino (Wiley) is already kid friendly, and he is only 3!  Kels can walk, trot and canter him without any issues. I’m not sure who I am more proud of…Kels or Dino, but the two of them make me very happy. They look so relaxed together.

Dino also completed his first under-saddle trail ride. It was my goal to get him on the trails this summer, and I kind of blew it. But, I got it done in the fall! He went out with Master horse trainer Coltin (seriously the best trail horse ever). Amy rode Coltin on the tails with Dino and me. Dino led almost the entire trail. He was so good. Bikes, joggers and other horses passed by and he was fine. I guess nothing truly frightens a dinosaur! He actually seemed so happy to get out and explore this big world! He did have a couple of good looks and some small spook in place moments, but only once did Coltin need to lead. That was when we were under the bridge and in the creek. Probably the most frightening place a horse could go. Dino led us into the water, but then saw a couple of shiny wet rocks peeking out of the water and just tried to turn back, but Coltin passed him and all was well! He really is a good little dinosaur!

Dino hits the trails
Dino hits the trails
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Dino Learns to LOVE Ear Clipping

Training Dino (Wiley) to love the ear trimming process was easy to do with clicker training. It just takes time. I started Dino when he was 2, and practiced every couple of months while I was clipping pony anyway. I got a little more practice after I purchased some handy cordless $12 mustache clippers. I was just too lazy to get out my real clippers and go find an electrical outlet (I know, pretty bad!).

Dino is only 3 in this video, and he is already pretty decent at the ear trimming process. I can trim 1 handed with Dino untied.  I prefer him untied, so he feels like he can move away if he is uncomfortable. Dino started out like most horses and wanted nothing to do with clippers inside his ears (or on his bridle path). He was OK with them on the outside of his ears though-but by no means relaxed. I slowly desensitized Dino to the feel of clippers and then to their sound. Only after he was relaxed with the sound and feel, did I try to go inside the ear. Even then, I stopped after the first swipe and gave Dino a nice jackpot reward. Now I can go deep into the ears with no resistance. What a good baby dinosaur!

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Some People Say Horses Aren’t So Smart…..

What does this mean???
What does this mean???

I hear comments about horses not being very smart all the time. But I think they just might be wickedly smart. They may even have a keen sense of humor. You just have to pay attention.

Take Dino, for instance. Now I admit that Dino hadn’t been as “active” as a 3 year old horse should be. It had been incredibly hot, so he had mostly just been getting turned out. That’s when “this” started. 3 times in one week, my giant dinosaur of a horse used his automatic waterer for a toilet. This is no accident either. Dino’s normal “relief station” is at the very other end of his paddock. This is an intentional message. A plea for attention. When the weather cooled, and Dino was back to his normal exercise routine, this nighttime activity ceased. Yep, Dino, I got the message loud and clear (although I really fail to see the humor in this). I just wish you would communicate in a way that was a bit easier to clean up!

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Sweet 16 Ride!

For Wiley’s 16th ever ride under saddle, Kelsey (13) took the reins. Wiley is already 16.3 and Kelsey is just at 5 feet, so they made an interesting pair. I just let them walk around, and Wiley was a perfect gentleman. I was so proud of them both!

Although this was a fun thing to do for Wiley’s Sweet 16 Ride, there really is a reason why I did it. I wanted to start generalizing Wiley’s under saddle training. I don’t want Wiley thinking that I am the only one that can ride him. He needs to learn that it is OK for others to get on him. I start slow, and feather in other riders occasionally. Everyone gives aids a bit differently. Wiley needs to understand that all of that is OK. He passed his first test with flying colors!

Wiley has gotten to the point that if I told a competent rider he was an old, un-tuned lesson horse, they would get on and ride thinking nothing of it. His steering is a bit jerky at the walk and trot.  And at the canter, his steering is still a work in progress, but he rides like a kid’s lesson horse. He knows the basic aids, it  just takes him a bit of extra time to process them.  Wiley’s transitions are decent. He only trots a few steps before the canter. He picks up his correct leads most of the time and he keeps a consistent pace. He can trot serpentines, and he can back, turn on the haunches and forehand relatively decently. He just needs time in the saddle and his response times will get better. I started riding him outside the arena as well. So far, so good, but of course, I am taking it sloooooow!

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First Canter Steps Under Saddle!

Wiley is growing up fast! With a few trotting rides under his belt, it was time to try canter.

Just like when I first asked Wiley to trot under saddle, Wiley was put on the longe line. This way Wiley can focus on 1 variable of change-carrying a rider under saddle.  He doesn’t have to think about too much. I am in the middle giving cues and supporting him the whole time. Once again I chose Amy for the first canter ride because she is a quiet rider that won’t lock up if Wiley should pull a baby horse stunt.

Of course Wiley has no clue about canter aids under saddle, so Amy’s aids are only a pre-cue. Wiley is taking his commands from me. I just like him to get used to the idea of the under saddle aids. Eventually, he will start cantering off the pre-cue alone. Amy will only use her legs for transition to the canter and then take them off completely (no steering with them…that comes later). Her only steering is through the reins.

When Wiley first transitions into the canter, I click him after only 2-3 strides. This lets him know that the transition was correct. It also gives him a reward before he thinks too much about what is going on. After rewarding him for the transition twice, I go ahead and let him canter a full circle or so before a reward. In his 4th canter transition under saddle, I let him canter 3 full circles before giving him a  jackpot reward and ended it there. That is plenty for Wiley to think about day 1.

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