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Topic: sinnington manor summer camp (Read 2111 times) |
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Judith
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #150 on: Oct 29th, 2009, 10:22am » |
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One thing you could do would be to carry on doing this , and when you feel she is completely working well, introduce a bridel , but have no reins attached to it. She would then get used to the feel of the bit whilst being ridden , but cease to view it as a something that might hurt her. Its how we start our horses , C rides in the halter with bridle underneath , no reins.
Hows the dashing Spaniard?
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alex
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #151 on: Oct 29th, 2009, 6:23pm » |
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Thxs for that Judith. I originally started her like that and had progressed to the bridle only as she was more responsive and softer in the bit. Charlie came a couple of times at just the right moment to do the next stage. However, I don't think I got her soft enough in the halter first as due to previous owner's handling she knew how to push through any hater and is not frightened of doing it. This is really the crux of out trailer loading as she is not worried about hanging back on it or rushing through.
I will just keep giong and then introduce the bridle and bit in due course. this mayactually be a very useful thing as she may become easier in the halter when under stress.
The Spaniard is going from strength to strength I am pleased to say. Riding has been a minimum whilst saddle things are being done. At the moment Dancer's saddle is being altered to make an interim fit whilst I wait for his new one. On friday Niki Potter is coming up with me to work him and is borrowing a saddle that fits him for the day. Dancer's isn't back yet.
He is already changing in the back and he is gatting the idea of self carriage in more of an elongated shape to stretch. He doesn't go from walk to trot elongated yet but is now seeking the stretch once he is in the gait. This work is so interesting and he finds it confusing but is giving it a go.
He has shown some worries about being in the corner by the mounting block in the indoor school as so many horses do. I am having lots of cups of tea sitting on it and asking him to be close and also to circle it. We are doing this and buildiing to stopping behind it where he thinks he can.
One livery owner has asked if our horse can be buddied up with Duke which is going to start today slowly so that they can go out together and it will be nice for me to be able to ride Duke out with this other horse who is a good hacker. He was once dark like Duke and is now almost totally white but has a grey mane. They will look lovely together which is of course very important!
Another new horse has arrived on the yard which is a 4 year showjumper. It was good to hear their saddle fitter telling them to walk it much more than they do and to let it stretch. I had Duke in hand in the arena when they came in and decided to stay as they were concerned their youngster maybe upset if we left straight away. I had to close off my hearing when the Mum said that her daughter must wear spurs to stop her daughter using her legs. Luckily, the yard owner is trying to help them keep everything light and back building with thhis horse, suggesting that it isn't ready for full jumping lessons yet. I hope Duke knows how lucky he is.
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alex
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #152 on: Oct 29th, 2009, 6:24pm » |
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AAHHHHH!!!
Meant to say he isn't a Spaniard but a Portuguese. He is from Lisbon.
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taildragger
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #153 on: Oct 31st, 2009, 1:43pm » |
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Just been reading your posts. Is Team Wilson getting excitied at the forthingcoming YHL? It must be a very anxious time not knowing whether Herman is going to be sound or not. Have you got a back-up ned lined up just in case? You are welcome to H but there is no way his abilities match Hermans.
Gosh, I want some of whatever it is that Charlie's jumping student is on. Hunting bitless. Actually that is the only way I would consider hunting as one has far more control, however, going from novice to hunting in two years is quite something. I need an injection of 'Brave' as I have never had a go. I want to in theory but that is as far as it goes. Just watching H in his field when the hunt goes by is quite enough excitement!
I have been watching Liz's postings on the progress of working two horses at liberty. The evident advancement she has made had me interested, so fired off an email asking if I could come over and watch one day.
I was invited over on Thursday. A beautiful, still, golden and warm autumn day. David supplied me with a throne so I could watch the proceedings in style. This was placed next to a fenced off bit of paddock which served well as a school. Liz was anxious about having an audience, but the food poisioning she had been up with all night coupled with exhaustion, kept her calm and concentrated throughout.
Liz put the two neddies through their paces, and soon relaxed into total absorbtion with what she was doing. The two horses performed the most astonishing selection of moves together. If I ever needed a lesson in lightness and patience (which I do) then Liz was the right person to watch. The great thing about watching someone else is what you can learn from their approach, body language and general repatoire - not to mention the individual and collective response from the horses.
The whole excercise was so worthwhile. Utterly inspirational and motivating: oddly moving too. If I can get half as good as that with one horse, I will be well pleased.
I have been invited back to work Nins and Claude myself. I am looking forward to this as I love working with other people's horses, but, ooooh, the pressure to perform!
I have got a major problem with H at the moment. He just walks through (supposedly electrified) fences to get to the grass. He has flattened two fences so far and taken the once laminitic Troy with him on his wanderings. Farmer Paul is not amused. I thought about putting loads of tin foil both sides on the front of his rug or putting an electric fence at knee height. Havnt tried it but I will if no one else can come up with a solution.
It isnt even as if he is hungry. The have a bale of hay a night between them; the whole of the Avenue, which has very little grass, to wander about in and an electric fenced off bit of good grass - but no. We feel the need to wander off and get loads more from the 25 acre hay field.
Have a lovely weekend everyone
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Liz
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #154 on: Nov 1st, 2009, 10:10am » |
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How exciting for Alex to be helping Duke (or should I call him The Duke?) be introduced to NH ways - he must be a very surprised/happy horse to have found someone to communicate with 
Thanks Heather for some very kind comments - considering what a dreadful 'show' N&C put on the day before I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd decided not to cooperate in any way at all but, for some reason, when you came, they were really good and looked after me by doing (almost) whatever I asked - reminder to self - must work on Nins' draw - as she was merrily doing an extra circuit or two after I'd asked them both in!
I get such a buzz from doing the liberty - well, when it works I do! Today the rain is coming down in stair-rods and has been all night, this is not ideal with only an open field on top of a hill to play in! Hope it's better somewhere in the thingcountry.
Vanessa - how's thing with young Strider? Do tell us about your weekend and what you learned/how you got on - you can leave out the bit about the saddle!
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Judith
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #155 on: Nov 1st, 2009, 5:31pm » |
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We re pretty sure Herman will be allright; seems it was an infection that caused the swelling , rather than something physical.however, with 2 weeks to go there is always the possibility that something else will go wrong!
Every animal inside now and onto full winter egime- in a day! Yest the hunt came through ,so horses were kept in for some of the day. I rode ben an hour after they d gone through, and he really perked up , he could definitely tell they d been. It was so hot yest , but its now a bog everywhere , and Catter Beck in flood. The cows ran inside this morning!
I gave Guinness his first session today - on line ,and went through the first 3 games. Despite being easy to lead and catch , its always different doing the games!
He wasnt very sure of the stick flogging with kindness.
He wasnt keen on yielding hindquarters on either side.
He didnt like being led from the offside
Didnt like backing from a suggestion.
Is ok with the ball
So lots to work on !
Now that its just our own horses here ther is plenty to do. C rode Inca inside [ well he sat on her], she was ok , its good that they can pick up where they ve left off months ago.
Liz ought to be videoing her liberty . I go through the you tube liberty stuff - varying quality to say the least !!
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Liz
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #156 on: Nov 4th, 2009, 09:34am » |
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Horses can display the most awful timing sometimes can't they - but I'm relieved to hear that Herman should be OK to fulfil his starring role at YHL! I'm not sure if I'm going yet, I've been asked to help a friend move her horse from one yard to another that weekend so I could be tied up but also of course England are playing Australia at Twickers which is an important event!
I don't think I'm ready for videoing yet - or at least, certainly not for public consumption 
We've got glorious sunshine today and as usual that means I've got an appointment in the office but I intend to try doing a little with with N&C before I have to go. What's everybody else doing? Alex how's Tilly and have you got The Duke's saddle back yet? Vanessa - what's happening with your chap? Tried some more liberty Heather? Sandra - are you still on the planet?
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taildragger
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #157 on: Nov 4th, 2009, 6:19pm » |
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No. I hav'nt Liz. I have been, and still am, battling with
the result of a burst water main. Tack room, utility room, garage all flooded. Cleaned rugs, my new Brogini Boots all sodden. The poor chickens would not come out of their house. Unbelievable mess. It must have been going all night. Whis is it that if anything frightful is going to happen, it always happens at night?
Anyway, Harry is joining in this fun-fest by escaping into the Shires field. He has plenty of grass but feels the need to plough through fencing, taking Troy with him. What is the matter with him?
Glad Herman-th'-German is going to be OK, I'm taking Mrs Lockyer and Mrs Russell up with me on the Saturday and I could do with a bit of neddy watching and a bit of shopping.
Now then. Guiness (got a good head on him y'know)
what fun starting the games all over again. It is amazing how slowly they learn to begin with (or this may be an Irish thing) but after a while you 'tune in' to their learning rate - well in some things anyway. How do you feel about him? can you see the potential?
I do wonder what has happened to Sandra. She is good value and it would be a pity if she were to drop by the wayside. Talking of which, I still chat to Caroline every now and then. I hope they are both coming next year too.
Got to go and prepare tonight's culinary delight. Beans on toast with bacon on the top, so better go and get the other old boy fed. At least this one shows no signs of wandering because the grass is greener. (I like to think...)
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Judith
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #158 on: Nov 4th, 2009, 6:50pm » |
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I know a little of sandra, as Charlie teaches someone on the same livery yard. C s pupil has a highland mare who came to us in the spring. Nice mare , but could be bossy/kicky wih other horses. Once the mare was moved to present yard , she became inseperable from a big black mare....which turned out to be sandras! C hasnt seen her on his travels , but allseems ok as far as we know.
Did second go with Guiness, h/q yields good , ditto back up . On f/q yield on off side he still thinks he can walk off through me , bur I think thats sorted.
he didnt get done today as we ve had a new taptop arrive [ I m writing this in the kitchen, and am pleased with this new toy!! ] and ut took hours to set everything up. Also,front room floorboards lifted to find where the joists have fallen - what a mess!
Inca has been led of Whisper and Ben , and is doing well.
We had an email today to say Dr Hearchmann will be in UK in 2010 [Sept], , not sure where , but will be interesting.
£ bull calves went today to their next home - at only 6/7 months they were already getting too sexy and their dad may not have tolerated them for much longer.....
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Liz
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #159 on: Nov 5th, 2009, 5:58pm » |
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What fun to be starting with a new horse - but it's hard to remember all the 'baby' stuff. When I started with Claude I found it very hard to go right back to basics (mainly because I couldn't remember it all) and had to start looking back at the Parelli booklets and my own notes and remind myself that he was new to it all. He's always been too much of a scaredy-cat to walk through anyone but he'd scoot off backwards and then it would take ages and ages for me to be able to walk down his side without him scooting backwards....you can imagine the fun when I then wanted him to learn to walk backwards with me further and further down his side!! You and Alex must keep us all informed of progress and blips as the training progresses with your two newies.
Well done to Inca - is she enjoying seeing new areas of the farm? I guess having Ben alongside would stop her zooming off if any killer butterflies or birds took off nearby.
Have the calves gone to be raised for another 8 months locally?
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Judith
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #160 on: Nov 6th, 2009, 10:13am » |
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Yes, the bull calves are at Spaunton , with very nice people.
I was indeed reminded of how little horses really trust us, when yesterday I worked with Guinness. As far as we know he has only been long reined. Of course this 'only' has been enough to make him brace and go if I push him too far. Despite being a lovely friendly boy I see an immediate difference between him and the youngsters bred here. there will have to be a lit of trust building work , and i ll have to ask him much less per session . C says I m impatient !
A neighbour's stables would be a good place to desensitise any horse - part of the building is used as a builders storage yard , there are guinea fowl & other fowl on the rafters , a pig rootling anywhere it likes, screaming kids ,a couple of sheep - all under the same roof! Perhaps we ll send Inca there for a while.....!
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taildragger
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #161 on: Nov 6th, 2009, 2:23pm » |
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Aaaah, I recognise the description of Felicities Yard anywhere! Yes, it woud be a great place to take a new horse, especially when the pot-bellied piggle is rocketing around the yard. Ann also got chased by the enormous billy-goat as well. My goodness me what a monster goat, and boy, oh boy, do goats smell bad to us, let alone a nervous neddy.
I do wonder what has happened to Guiness to make him so distrustful. Out of Ireland, one has no way of knowing what has gone before, other than the fact that they all seem to have an aversion to letting one touch their nearside ear. Twitching ears must be the norm for everything there.
Just sewn electic tapes each side of the front openings of all Harry's rugs. I am hoping this will stop him blundering through the electric fencing. He can't be bothered to jump, but is happy just to barge his way though. Troy of course, follows.
The Shires decided to join H and T in the hayfield yesterday. If I had not have been so cross it would have been very funny. There were these two gigantic horses squealing, bucking, bolting and farting and my two whizzing past them in a circle encouraging them to ever greater heights of lunacy. I dont mind telling you that it was a b**ger of a job trying to catch them.
Have a lovely weekend everyone.
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Judith
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #162 on: Nov 7th, 2009, 08:35am » |
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Felicitys yard is much quieter than the one I m thinking of ! But I m with you on goats - they do pong! Pigs do freak out horses , a friend of ours went to use the outdoor school of the 'busy' yard , only to be greated by the pig snuffling by the rails. She couldnt get her horse used to that at all and had to go home!
We had a 'break out' yeaterday , with Whisper and Cameo charging along the railway line . Of course the other girls flew around their field , resulting in Polly straining the tendons on one of her sound legs - she s now lame on 3 legs![ sounds awful that she is lame on 2 legs, but the vets think she manges well with the 2 kick injuries that she s had for a decade] Poor old girl. Its one of those wait and see situations , we certainly wouldnt want her to suffer. Old and faithful ponies- hearbreaking when they get so aged.
Guiness went well yesterday , I m now treating him not as a firendly well adjusted lad , but as a semi remedial. So very slow and careful work. He certainly appreciated it. I think cobs do have a bad time being treated roughly , as people think they are as mentally tough as their exterior looks.
Inca is leading out well, and as Trudie comes too there is plenty of rustling in the undergrowth! Inca will be 'steady to hounds' even if nothing else! She s also steady to tractors and all moving vehicles , but not stationary ones ! This will be a long winter.......
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taildragger
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #163 on: Nov 8th, 2009, 10:32am » |
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What are you going to do about the horses escaping? Short of hobbling or stabling I cant think of what the answer is. If they want to escape they will. Poor Polly, what is the news?
Do you have agricultural markets in NY? I was thinking about her desensitisation and wondered whether putting her in a trailer together with a laid-back ned, and opening the front so she could see all the hussle and bustle, shouting and whatever else goes on, might not be a good start. Pity showtime is now over otherwise you could spend the day walking her around one of those.
We have an outbreak of lice at the yard. Three horses affected. the horses are stabled in a barn, as opposed to ours which are in outside stables. Chickens roost above the horses and have done so for centuries, now the Vet has said that the chickens are responsible.
I have checked this out and to the best of my research, I have found that chicken lice are specific to chickens . I wonder if it is redmite which the Vet has misidentified? they live in the woodwork and wait for something warm to come along. Anyway, one horse has rubbed itself raw and the two others are just itching like mad. As a result, our farmer has caught all the chickens, clipped their wings and put them in the orchard where the foxes can get in and out with the greatest of ease. The yard is now bereft of life. No chickens or pigs. It is just not the same.
Wet here, mud gathering viscosity in readiness for sucking boots off when one has a handfull of horses. How is everyone elses fields?
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Liz
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Re: sinnington manor summer camp
« Reply #164 on: Nov 9th, 2009, 10:50am » |
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Yes, how is Polly? Has she mastered the art of balancing on her one good leg?
As far as your chickens go Heather, my vet said just the same - in fact he said that the only lice which are NOT speciies specific are those which chicken carry and which will happily live on horses as well. We missed a Charlie clinic a year ago becuase some neighbours let their chickens into our field - I found it irritating but not a nuisance. That is until Fiona and Estelle came out and did their shiatsu on Nins and Clod. Whilst Fiona was working away somewhere on Clod's hock, a host of little wriggly brown things appeared on his withers, she stopped and they disappeared, she resumed and they reappeared - 3 times in all this happened! I'd not seen lice before but F&E assured me they were indeed lice. I reckoned if he had them so Nins must as well and my trailer chauffeur wouldn't have her in the trailer hence I missed out on a clinic. The owners of the ruddy chickens thought it was very amusing that their chickens could get into the field through/over their fence and took no responsibility. However, when our horrible Toad got old enough to run around he chased the chickens back through the fence and into their pen with me faintly muttering 'come back', 'come here' in the background whilst privately I was hooting with laughter. The fence was made chicken proof within hours and they've never got out again and we've never had lice again.......
We're on clay here but despite all the recent rain it's not too bad yet, it's greasy on top but we're not into the glutinous mud yet - thank goodness. We're lucky though that we've got 2 horses on 20 acres so very few patches get a lot of traffic, bugive it a couple of months and paths, bridges, gateways all will be horrendous 
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