My Daughter and I Trail Ride

We had a nice, warm weekend. My boyfriend had to work, but now that I know how both horses will do on a trail ride, I felt comfortable taking my daughter (age 10) out on Matt. Matt is her horse, anyway. I haven't done anything with Dude since last Sunday except feed and pet him. This time, I got Matt tacked up first and left Matt tied to my springy tree. Then, I tied Dude right next to him for grooming. They get along extremely well or I wouldn't do that. This made Dude more amenable to being groomed. I had to start at the shoulder and work my way slowly down his back to his hip and then down his back leg on each side to pick his rear hooves. For bridling, he wanted to back up, so I untied him completely and let him step back a couple of steps. He let me put the bridle on, then, with carrot bribes, of course. I took him out of the paddock, into the front yard for saddling and he was fabulous! He moved around less for saddling than he had for brushing! He barely walked around for girthing!! He stood still for mounting. I had a "senior moment" and cuoldn't figure out how to tighten my saddle while mounted. I had a mental picture of E's hunt seat saddle in my brain and went blank on getting my dressage girth tight. I had to dismount to get my helmet, also. When I got back on Dude stood still, but the saddle turned. This startled him a little, but not too badly. He circled a little more vigorously when I had to undo it and retighten it, than he had earlier. He continued to stand still for the third mounting. On the trail, when we came to one of the big ditches, someone had put some plywood in the crossing so our boys were hesitant. My daughter was getting alittle nervous, so I got off and led Dude and Matt through the ditch. Dude stood still for me to mount again on the trail. We had a nice ride. Some dogs started following us and we were afraid they were going to follow us all the way home. So, I asked my daughter if she wanted to turn and chase the dogs and she was all for it. Matt and Dude for for it, as well. Matt was snaking his head at them! LOL. the dogs ran off and didn't follow us anymore. It was a great, safe ride for my daughter and me. I think Dude is behaving better because he is learning that we are going to get out and have some fun and not do boring arena work. I've yet to try to canter him on a trail, but I probably will next time I have my boyfriend with me. Dude is getting what he needs -- lots of slow, relaxed work with me that lets him know I'm not a threat. I wish I had more time to do things like this with him, but with winter hours, the weekends are about all we have.

Another Good Trail Ride

My boyfriend and I took Matt and Dude for a trail ride on Sunday. Matt was saddled first and the kids rode him while I worked with Dude. I tied Dude to a small tree with a lot of "give" while I groomed him, so no trouble there. He likes to move ALL the way over when I switch sides while grooming him. No go at all on lifting the back feet, which is usually not a problem (?). He was slightly reticent about the bridle, but nothing like he used to be. He walked around a little for the girthing, but not very fast. I got the girth underneath on the first grab and got it in the buckle. I went side to side tightening. The only thing I had a problem with was my off side stirrup leather came off and I had to approach him several times and let him smiff it and see what I was doing before he let me reattach it. Carrots were given at intervals, of course. He let me mount from the ground with no problems at all. It took me until now to figure out he likes to be mounted out of his paddock because that means a trail ride and not ring work. Dude finds it hard to train his human. His human is a slow learner (LOL). On the trail, he was great. We even jumped a little ditch. As long as his Matt is with him he will go anywhere. They both balked at an up-bank ditch thru mud so we went around. Dude didn't want to drink out of the pond we found. The funniest part was when we came to a paved road through an empty field, it took me quite awhile to get Dude to step onto it. Even with Matt walking back and forth illustrating that it would not swallow up a horse, Dude was nervous until he felt its solidness. Dude responds well to my reassurances that something is okay. I love that about him. My boyfriend thought Dude was afraid of his shadow which was projected onto the road and I agree that didn't help the situation. Both boys went through ditches, mud, tire trails through high grass, and ditch banks on the side of the busy road with no problems. They ambled home with no trying to run and were generally a joy to ride. I only walked and trotted Dude. We walked a stretch I want to canter next time, but I want to check it good for holes first.

Dude Gives a Pony Ride

Its been mostly nasty and cold. The day after Thanksgiving the kids (mine and R's) talked me into saddling up for them. I saddled Matt and my daughter was teaching R's son to jump on him. Dude was still standing around in his blanket. I put a halter on Dude and hoisted up R's 8-year old daughter to get a pony ride. Dude's face was PRICELESS. He had the same look on his face that he does when he knows I've got carrots, like "I'm a good boy?!" He carried his head low and moved ever so carefully. I led him over our homemade "jump" at a walk and let Livvy pretend she was learning to jump, too. Dude barely picked up his feet over the crossed broom sticks. He went patiently around and around carrying Livvy, although he got sour on the "jump" pretty quickly. What a love he can be sometimes.

Dude is Lonely

Sunday my daughter left for horse camp, taking Matt with her to spend 3 nights. My boyfriend (yay!!) helped me load Matt. We took the center divider out of the little trailer and Matt slant loaded himself and pulled great like that! He was happy and did not kick or stomp or fuss.

Where we took Matt was the barn where he used to live for 10 years before I bought him. He whinnied to all his friends when we turned into the driveway! He seemed quite pleased to be cross-tied in his old barn and prepped for class. I headed back with the empty trailer.

When I pulled up at the house, Dude was calling pitifully at the gate. He was upset that Matt did not come back in the trailer. He called and called, but he did not pace or kick the fence. I fed him and sat out there with him for awhile. Every time a car would pass on the road he would stare at it hopefully and then look sad when it did not stop and bring back his Matt. He quit crying and slept about 4 hours. At about 1:30 a.m., he started calling again so I went out and fed him an apple and petted him. He'll let me touch his ears for an apple (LOL). He didn't call anymore and I went back to bed.

This morning he called a little and I went out to feed him about 7. I broke the brand new round bale which I am keeping under a shed outside the horse pasture and doling out as needed, but it is better hay than my old stuff so that should make Dude feel better. He wasn't pacing or calling when I left for work. I hope he will not be too lonely until I can get back home. Poor Dude :-(

A Good Trail Ride

Saturday, we had 6 kids and 4 adults over at the house, counting me and mine, and 2 extra horses, Dreamer and Badger. The kids all rode Matt, Dreamer and Badger double and everything else they wanted to do (Matt now has shoes on all 4 feet, pretty!!). When the kids went off to jump on the trampoline (that was a really good investment, by the way!) we adults got ready to go on a little trail ride. My boyfriend hung out with me, with Matt, while everyone else got well out of the way as they are now "trained" to do when I work with Dude (LOL). Dude bridled perfectly on the second try, circled slowely while I did the girth and stopped periodically for a carrot. I think I have inadvertently trained Dude to circle for a carrot reward (Doh!). Then, I got ready to mount and he stood still the first time!!! I was so stunned I just stood there waiting for him to try to move for a moment. I guess he knew he was "done for" since Matt and the others were saddled up and ready to go. He knew there was no use fighting. Also, when we went down the road a ways, I thought he might have picked up a rock so I got off and picked his hooves. He stood still for me to get back on on the side of the road, too.

Dude has the sweetest little trail trot when we trail ride. I just am loving him and am so glad we did not give up. All the horses behaved really well and didn't balk or act up even when dogs ran out to the road to bark at us.

Yay for Dude and for all the support I have gotten on here.

Dude Trail Ride

Today was a completey new and better day with Dude! My new boyfriend and I decided to take Matt and Dude for a trail ride around the neighborhood. I got him saddled on Matt first and then tackled the dude scnario... Bridling was excellent - no trouble much at all. Saddling was okay - slow walk in a circle, but slow enough that I could eaisly grab the girth from underneath and get it buckled. I decided to mount from the ground and he wanted to back up. So, I backed him up quite a few feet in an authoritative manner. Then, I gave him a chance to stand still. Not ready, backing up. So, I backed him up again. Gave him a chance, tried to turn his back end away from me. So, I pushed his back end around in a circle for a few steps and tried to mount again. Backed up. So, I backed him up. This time he stood perfectly still for me to mount. I had been so intent I had forgotten to take off my walking cast and put my boot on. So, I got off and did that. When I went to mount that time he was still. Hoo-Ray. R and I went out to the main entrance of the subdivision and around to the trail I have been dying to try. We got through the small ditch with no problems and through another larger ditch. We went a good 500 yards, though and encountered a big steep cross ditch I had not known would be there, so we had to turn back. But it was a nice ride together anyway. Dude went along willingly and nicely so long as he knew Matt was with him. It was altogether very enjoyable and just the kind of thing I have been wanting to do ever since I brought the horses home. So, today I am glad to have my horsie and he was everything I want him to be. Yay!!!!

Impatience

Thanks to all for the saddle fitting advice. Nobody in the corral likes the cheap western saddle, we've established that. LOL. However, I will observe how my Wintec all purpose does on Dude. I know he likes it better because he will be tense and then when I set the Wintec on him he lets out his breath and relaxes, like "oh, THAT saddle is okay." But he still doesn't like the girth.

In fun news, I got a new boyfriend and we put him on Matt (on whom Keratex is working WONDERS on the hooves). He rode really well. Most people say they can ride, but are know nothing yahoos, but R really rode well and asked me for advice on how to sit the canter better .

On the impatience side, my new boyfriend got to see me lose my patience with Dude... I had already had a sort of bad day what with driving all over to pick up horses for the team penning only to stop at the feed store and find out team penning was canceled last night (GRRH!!!). We came back over here to ride with darkness falling (I hate that!). We got Dude saddled, with much walking around, but then he would not stand still for me to mount. I walked Dude out to get my lunge line out of the truck and found it was so tangled up it would take too long to get it untangled before it got dark. Meanwhile, Dude set back on the reins I was holding and pulled away (Arrgh). He didn't go anywhere, just acted like a jack ass (I know he can't help it). I got so mad I just put him in the paddock, took off the reins and walked AWAY. I threw my helmet into the tack shed and went into the house. Later, I went back and helped Lexie get on him. She had to back him up on the ground a bit and be firm with him, not mean, but firm like you are not going to act spoiled and you are going to stand still. He did, finally. We both got on him with no mounting block. She rode him and then I rode him, but it was pitch black dark by then. I was thinking about it later and I know it was a bad time to try to ride him.

It is never a good idea to try to work with Dude when I am in a hurry. Also, I was frustrated already from the team penning pony pick-up ride around in 5 p.m. traffic fiasco. But also, I was disappointed because when I think I have Dude straightened out on a behavior, he will revert to it and that makes me feel angry with him. At least I walked away and took it out on my helmet. Poor helmet. I feel like being a whiney baby and saying "I want a horse I can just saddle up and ride and enjoy." Sigh. Dude stays here no matter what, but he is looking more and more like he will get waht he wants, which is to be a retired pasture pet. Sigh.

Thoughts about the Vet (From DCV)

I've been thinking about the visit from the vet, and, I've decided he is okay, but I want to work on finding a vet who is more horse oriented. The thing that sticks in my mind is that I asked him, about Dude, whether he thought the teeth were interfering with the bit and the vet said, in a tone that brooked no argument, "Well, you would be in a better position to know that than I would." After that comment, I didn't bother to ask him to assess whether there might be any back problems that were causing Dude to be resistant to saddling -- it didn't seem to me that he was that "into" horses. I already know that the other vet in town does not like to work on horses. Luckily, we have Louisiana State University Vet School in Baton Rouge. Their ad in the Yellow Pages says you can get seen there with a referral from your vet, so I may look into that.

Dude gets a Warm Blanket

Tonight it is supposed to dip into the 30's (F) so I got a blanket for Dude today. I called Katharine to ask whether Dude has ever had a blanket on before. Thankfully, he has. I let him smell it first and he seemed to recognize and accept it (same brand from same store where I got Matt's a few weeks back, so probably smells the same). Rubbed him with it a little so he wouldn't be startled and then put it on with no problems. At first I had the strap that is like a girth so loose that it was a danger, so I got brave and worked on tightening it. He turned his head and stared hard at what I was doing, but was munching hay and didn't move. He was very docile for the blanketing! It is such a nice night with no mosquitoes biting for the first time in forever, that I stood out and watched him munch hay for a long time. He let me pet his face, touch and scratch his ears and was very sweet. He's never let me touch his ears willingly before. I stroked his ears, scratched his neck and he was letting me love on him. That is new. It is encouraging!! He does seem to greet me more happily and less indifferently lately, too. I think he is settling in here more and more.

I am reading That Winning Feeling by Jane Savoie. It is very inspiring.

More Cowboy suggestions I Won't be Taking

I talked to Jeanine tonite and from what she says, the story of Dude's behavior at the canter on Sunday got stretched into that there was some kind of "rodeo" and made Jeanine ask me if Lexie got hurt. No, Lexie didn't get hurt. Like I said, we both almost came off, but we didn't. It wasn't bucking, it was the fast cutting side to side in a dressage saddle that caused that. Anyway, Pedro talked to somebody and they talked to Jeanine and now she is trying to talk me into hobbling Dude That's a NO. I said, Jeanine, if he hasn't improved at all after a FEW MONTHS of me working with him, I MIGHT consider that.

Jeez, what is with other people's impatience about MY horse? Its not like they have to saddle him for me. I get it done myself now that my foot is better. So why should they care if he wants to walk in a circle while he gets saddled? As to the riding part, well, I just started working on that, plus, I'm not so comfortable at the canter right now myself. I know what will help besides going to the sand arena: When I get Matt in shoes and no longer lame I can practice cantering on him until I get more comofortable with it and then I will be more ready to anticipate Dude's tricks.

I'm so happy Matt will be okay. Matt is my daughter's horse and as long as he is not having behavior problems, the rest is just for me to work out in time. I wouldn't care if I never got to ride as long as my daughter gets to and she is happy.

Dude gets Sedated

The vet came tonight. His wife and assistant recognized Dude. She said she has ridden him and praised his smoothness and pretty canter. Neither horse needed his teeth floated. Doc told me to put a big rock in Matt's bowl to slow him down on taking big mouthfuls. Dude got one kind of tranq and still continued to fight so then got Ace. He was still trying to slow-mo kick the doc while getting his sheath cleaned. I've been sitting outside watching him because his head is hanging down and his tongue is hanging out. He is snoring. The good news is Doc says that Matt should be fine once he gets shoes on --- so onward with the farrier.

On Reflection

On reflection, I'm feeling kind of pessimistic about Dude, today. But, I have to remember, I have only been at it for a little while in comparison to the 17 years he's been alive. I feel confident that we will get through the saddling and loading and maybe even the tying issues.

By the way, I have found that if you take Dude up to a fence, put the reins over the fence, then unsnap the reins from the bridle for safety, he thinks he's tied and will stand there for at least 20 minutes to half an hour before he tries to start wandering away. Its just the hitting the end of the rope that freaks him. It works long enough to run into the house and use the potty!!

Anyway, I am not so confident that I will be able to work through the riding issues. I am trying to look at it from the point of view that no one fell off, no one got hurt, he isn't that bad, I've seen and ridden a lot worse, but, I'm older now and the ground looks very hard from up there. As I'm writing this I am planning, though. When I get him where I want him loading, I can take him to the free sand arena and work on his other issues there where a fall won't be so dangerous. Okay, I feel better now. But any encouragement would help!!

Dude is Herdbound

Sunday morning: Lexie and her mare had spent the night and we got up at 7 to go on our very own trail ride. Dude saddled as usual except with TROTTING in a circle due to the cold snap. Jeez. He did bridle really, really well.

We had left Matt behind and we didn't get 300 yards before Dude balked the first time. I got AWAY from the pavement and circled him and got him going forward again. He tried to start trotting and cut fast to the left, which is a favorite trick of his, but usually at the canter. I circled him, but then he started backing up. So, I circled him backing up and he started to jitter like he was going to blow. So, we backed up straight till we caught up with Lexie and the mare.

I put his nose in the mare's butt (he liked her this morning) and we made it a few more feet before he started heading home again. Got off the pavement and circled some more. Tried going forward in grass instead of pavement in case that was it. No, and Matt was screaming like a big baby girl from the house. So, with MUCH disappointment, we headed back home.

We worked on trailer loading for awhile. This was the first attempt at loading since the awful incident. Dude actually got all the way in once and stood for awhile munching his jackpot. I know, I know - you shouldn't use feed to get them in the trailer, but oh well, that's the method I'm using. Not much else we can do with him. He got praise and little apple pieces for each move forward. He got pretty relaxed by the end.

Then, Katharine was coming for a lesson, so I went to get my daughter and hurried back. The second time saddling, Dude was MUCH better and more calm. He still circled, but much more slowly. Walk and trot were fine. So Katharine talked me into trying to canter.

The first takeoff was great - no problems. So the second time I was SO not ready for the quick cut to the left. I almost came off, but didn't. Katharine made me do it again. I wanted to cry like a big baby. My foot hurt and my knee hurt. About that time we decided Matt was too lame to trot so we put my daughter on the mare and I put Lexie on Dude. Lexie cantered Dude and he pulled his crap with her, too. She almost came off and she can sit on anything. But, she cantered him both directions. Then, we all watched the fat pregnant mare trot around and canter - so CUTE.

Chloe was going to stay at my place for awhile, but this morning when I went out to feed she had gotten OUT into the neighbor's back pasture. There is a fairly low place in the fence in the back and that is where she tried to run back to when I went to catch her. My boys are too lazy to try to get out there because you would have to cross a big ditch first. But now Chloe is having to head back to bumf**k today to live there. I feel kind of bad, but having 2 on my little pasture is pushing it and I don't want my neighbors to get mad and make me get rid of mine. I was sued by a neighbor over my dog so that is the kind of neighbors I have and I'm not going to risk my daughter having to give up her horse. Lexie was very understanding and going to get the mare and take her back today. Where we live is in little mini farms type subdivision, but only one other person has a horse. We are zoned okay to have horses, but all it would take would be one incident to have someone sue me and that makes me too nervous.

Good Advice and Better Judgment

Pedro called me awhile ago. In the conversation he asked me about Dude. Then, he started saying "But wouldn't you like to be able to just let him stand there and saddle him and not worry about all of that?" I replied that I WILL be able to get him to stand still to saddle and bridle, MY WAY. I offered to bet him money that I can do it. He declined. Called his bluff. LOL. It might take me a year, but I don't think it will take me that long, but I will get Dude settled down and trusting me. It will happen because I will keep researching and trying new things and keep repeating old things until we get there. My question is, and it is rhetorical, how can Pedro, after observing that his efforts have not improved Dude and, in fact, have probably caused him to regress in his reactions, still blindly think that his methods will work on THIS HORSE? I'm sure they must work on some horses, or they wouldn't be used, but Natrlhorse was right when she said the cowboys will try their methods and when these don't work will say the horse is no good and to sell him. I was proud I had the right answer at hand to respond to Pedro. I will get Dude to behave properly, if it takes me years. But I don't think it will take more than a few months. I will keep trying no matter what.

Settling In

Here's a pic of my daughter riding Matt in barrels at the local show.

People advised me that it generally takes about a week for horses to adjust to a new place. We've had our horses a month, now, and I can see that it has taken them this long to start to settle in. Of course, they are older and were previously in one place for a decade, at least. I can see in their dispositions now that they are calming down and settling in. Of course, not having the periodic "cowboy" episodes is certainly helping Dude, also. I feel he is starting to bond with me. Matt likes me okay, but that's because I discovered he loves a hip/butt massage. LOL.

Haltering and Leading Work

I got a pretty good look at the tongue, but I didn't see anything unusual. It seems to get pretty narrow way far up, but that is probably natural. We didn't have much time until dark, so E was riding Matt - bareback at a walk only -- he is stiff in his right front now (yesterday it was the left, WTF?) I cut up some apple and worked on haltering Dude. He was all sweet and lowering his head and sniffing my cast (??) I found out that if the lead rope is around his neck first he is completely amenable to the halter, hmmm. Apple for that, anyway. Then, I led him around and practiced halting squared without swinging his butt around by halting along the fence. We went into the scary corner that he avoids for some mystery reason. I was just kind of being in the pasture while E rode. We also had to establish that Dude needs to start moving again when I start moving. It was harder to mark that as good behavior, but a "good boy" seems to work. Its hard for me to get a treat out when we are doing something on the fly.

I tried to give him a treat while riding yesterday, but he had no idea how to turn his head and get a treat while being ridden. Anyway, halter off with no fuss and lots of scratching and loving. And apple pieces.

Dude did not like me giving E apples to give to Matt -- his facial expressions were like "Hey, those are my apples!!" Tomorrow we should be getting home early because of a field trip and I am off from work to be a chaperone, so will probably ride. E will pout because I have to see how Matt is doing to see if she can ride him at all. I ordered some Keratex that should be here in a day or 2 so I hope that will help his hooves. Matt is without shoes for the first time in a long time because his hoof was cracked so bad when I got him that he had to be left barefoot by the farrier when he came. His hooves grow fast, though, so he should be ready for shoes in about 1 1/2 weeks. However, that is a long time for 10 year old with a new horse. Oh well, she will have to learn to be a good horsewoman who puts her horse first.

More Background on Dude

By the way, when Katharine came by Sunday, I told her what happened to Dude's head (skinned parts of his face in the trailer saddling incident). When I told her about the idea I went along with about trying to saddle him in the trailer she snorted in amused derision. She has known Dude for 10 years and she knew what the rest of the story was going to be before I even told her. Doh!

She made me feel better about his wounds, saying they get beat up worse than that in the pasture sometimes. She was very sweet to not make me feel bad for my stupid idea. I'm glad I learned my lesson without further harm to Dude.

She did give us more of Dude's story, saying that the fat man who had him before had cut his tongue on purpose and also twitched his ears to try to get him to lower his head. According to Katharine, only Mar has seen the mysterious cut tongue, but I'm going to try to get a peak one day. Sounds horrible, I had no idea they did things like that!!!

10/28/07 cont'd

I started to get frustrated and I said, "Dude, don't you want to go for a ride? It will be fun!" He seemed to understand my tone. He relaxed a little. Shortly thereafter, he stood for the bridle. He did a lot of walking in his circle for the saddling, but I finally got one of the long billets throught the buckle. I had to sit down and rest for awhile. He watched with interest as I drank my diet coke and and caught my breath. I offered a carrot piece and he took forever to step forward and get it. I resumed saddling, giving much praise and carrot peices and led him over to the little chair. He was reluctant to approach it, but finally did.

I mounted by reaching across to pull on a fence post to help mount (still not putting a foot in the stirrup to mount, just sort of sliding on). We walked around and I tightened the girth some more. We had a nice ride walking and trotting. I just couldn't bring myself to try the canter (chicken!!). I got bored in the back pasture, so got my daughter to let us out the gate and went on a mini trail ride around the front yard, down the street and back and over to the neighbor's and back. Encountered 2 dogs -- one merited a half-hearted kick. I got him to stand near the trampoline while the girls jumped up and down -- little to no alarm. I went to look at the ditch I want to cross to get to a trail behind our house and he didn't like that. He backed up and carried on a little. I wasn't going to cross the ditch, I was just looking to see if it had a low place anywhere. He just didn't want to stand there while I looked at the ditch -- strange.

Came back and trotted around the front yard. It was fun for me and I hope it was for him, too.

Sigh. I don't know that I am making much progress with getting Dude to change, but I got him to ride without any drama, so I call it a win. He was better at haltering. I'm encouraged to keep working on him.

Saddling

Today is the first time since I have had him that I have gotten to work all the way through to saddling and riding Dude all by myself. I figured out I can wear my walking cast on my foot to do everything and then stop and put my boot on for mounting and riding. It worked out well. I loaded up with carrot peices in my fanny pack and gathered all my stuff. First, I haltered him -- he did fantastic for that. He seems to respond to "good boy" about as well as he does to the clicker. The, I undid the halter and put it on his neck. I had trouble with the bridling for awhile. He would back up, but I would stand with my shoulder under his neck and my hand around on his nose and just step back with him.

Dude Intimidates the Pony Party Riders

10/28;Today was my daughter's birthday party. Matt was her present for her birthday, but we had friends over, hers and mine, and rode the horses. Dude was okay with bridling, it took awhile, but we got there with scratchings and carrots. I got interrupted with arriving guests and Jeanine combed out his mane entirely and petted him all over his head while I was off greeting. When I got back, I got J to take all the kids and people over to the other side of the paddock and get them started riding. I took my time saddling Dude and got him saddled with the usual walking around. It took some patience and carrots, but his circle was small and not too energetic, so I was able to follow. I put my leg cast thing back on because my foot's been hurting. After I got him saddled, I led him around because I had to go get a bridle for the others and stuff so I just took Dudie around with me. When the time came I got a chair and tried to get on him. He moved around a little, but then I laid across his back first and then felt him relax. Then, I remembered I probably wanted my helmet so I had to lead him around to go get it. When I got back I got on him without putting my foot in the stirrup == just kind of bare-back slid a leg over. He walked a little, but not fast. I got my stirrups and then tightened the girth some more. Then we walked and trotted and were fine. J rode him, too. She said he did the head shake with her, but I had warned her so she was wise to him. Surprisingly, the kids didn't want to ride long and we unsaddled pretty soon. No one wanted to ride Dude. Just as he craftily planned. LOL. Later, I worked on haltering him with a rope halter. He let me put it on his nose. He wasn't going to go for it this time, so I ended on just letting it rest on his nose. I didn't have any carrots so I left it there with some scratchings and praise. Katharine comes tomorrow, so maybe I'll lope.

Working on Bridleing Issues

Wasn't home last night until late -- got them fed and a blanket on Matt (it went down into the 40's and felt damp). Tonight, it was dark when I got home, but I did Matt's feet (picked and applied hooflex to fronts). I had put some baby carrot pieces in my pocket, so I worked on getting Dude to let me hold his head and put my hand on his nose. I stood beside him and just scratched and petted and rubbed his nose. I gave him carrots when he was still and when he was not trying to snuffle my hand or pocket. He tried to back up a little, but I just stepped back and stayed with him. Gradually, I touched his snout with the halter. He nodded and tried to get it off. He got a carrot piece when he got still. I felt the carrots running out so I went for the big finish and put the halter on and buckled it. He is usually pretty good about this, but I want him to be good 100%. He got the last carrot and lots of scratching in his favorite itch spot under his jaw. When I reached up to take it off, I must have been talking and had a "finished" tone in my voice because he was perfectly still for the removal. He got more pettings and scratchings for that. He was so sweet at some points during the session he was almost resting his neck on my shoulder and completely relaxing. I just want to work on small increments to get his trust completely. I hope that was enough. Lord knows we need more days like this without any drama!

Working on Saddling Issues

Lexie came over and we worked on getting the simulated girth tightening some more. Dude got to the point where he would almost stand still when it was tightening. He would go in one circle and then stop for his carrot piece. We put the synthetic dressage saddle on him and girthed him loosely. More circling, but progress. Bridling was, however, a big problem again. It took about an hour to get that on without him tossing his head. Thing is, he doesn't walk away, he just moves his head. Same as saddling in that he could easily try to walk away and pull away completely, but he doesn't. He just has his nervous tics. Lexie put the bridle on and off about 5 times and then I did it twice. My daughter came out and started whining to ride, but it was way past dark, has turned cold and it was time to eat supper. So, Dude got a reward of release for his troubles. Lexie says she had a mare that had been abused and started out worse than Dude. It took her about a year to get the mare over the worst of her fears. Meanwhile, Jeanine went out to eat with Pedro and he still called Lexie twice to see what she was doing so we had a hard time sneaking around. LOL.

Escape Attempt or The Grass is Always Greener!

I don't know if my old heart can take much of this. Dude, the trickster, just escaped while I was putting Matt back in the pasture and strolled around my front yard exploring the much better grass (its greener because of the other side of the fence and all). Thank goodness I had carrots in my pocket and caught him with the lead rope. He dutifully went back in with Matt, but my heart was pounding with what ifs. I did want to "doctor" a cut I found on his hip and I had the wonder dust in my pocket, too, so I got him, haha. I practised "Squealing" and running them off from their hay. I'm not a good squealer as I have one of those low pitched voices. But they were appropriately alarmed by my attempted dominance and backed up a little. Don't forget who is the pasture boss in real life boyz. LOL.
Oh yes, Dude has the backing up problem, too. He starts to back up when things get tough for him or he gets grumpy. Thanks a lot to whomever originally taught him how to back up so well. Thankfully, so far, just sitting still and doing nothing gets him to stop. Then wait to feel him relax and he's willing to go forward again. I like everyone's ideas on fixing the backer upper, here: p068.ezboard.com/ffhotd64...ID=4.topic.

Pics

Here are some pics. The sorrel is Dude and the liver chestnut is Matt. Included is a rare photo of my daughter riding Dude.

I Continue to Make Poor Decisions and Listen to Bad Advice

Sunday afternoon. The situation at this point was that I had now come out of my quandary of wondering whether Dude should be cowboyed into behaving: NO. Yet, I had not been able to saddle him on my own since the broken foot. Katharine had come Sunday morning, but we couldn't use Dude because his hackamore was left in the stock trailer which was locked up miles away. He can't take a bit. Katharine says his tongue was cut by some previous owner/trainer!! So, I rode poor old Matt who had been trailered half the day and night and chasing cows in between. I just walked Matt and worked on my seat, steering, half-half and halt. My daughter had spent the night with Vicky and her kids. Pedro called and said we were taking all the kids to the park arena and he was coming to load Matt and Dude. No problem, as Dude had loaded fine for Lexie and me the day before. Sure enough, he loaded for feed for Pedro and me. Here is my last installation of SHAME: Why, in gods name would I listen to this idea? I cannot tell you. Dude was all content and quiet in the trailer so Pedro says why don't you try saddling him in the trailer where he can't move away. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!! I know my horse. I know how he is. I also know how dangerous trailers are. I should have known better. I will not go against what I think again! But I did on Sunday. Dude marched a little when I put the schooling pad and saddle on. When I touched the girth he blew up and tried his damnedest to escape the metal trailer. He hit his head and knocked skin off his face. He was utterly and completely panicked. We were lucky to get him out of the trailer at all after that. I made everyone get away from me and Dude. I brideled him and saddled him, letting him walk in his little cirlce. It was much easier to do using my dressage saddle with the long billets. He was very calm, considering what we did to him in the trailer. I think he beaned himself so hard he was half knocked out. Poor, poor boy. I lead him into the arena and he was going to walk around, but then he stood still for me to mount. By some miracle of god I had gotten the girth tight enough to be able to mount from the ground without help. We had a lovely walk, trot around the huge arena several times. Dude was sweaty to the point of a lather. We trotted around barrels, which he seems to know. We worked the flag that simulates a cow, which aggravated him (he started backing up). We trotted barrels some more to end on a fun note. I thought Dude would be worn out after all of this. Pedro said he wasn't tired at all. Whatever. When I got off I saw that Dude had scraped a big chunk out of his "star" on his face. I mean 2 inch square of hair is GONE! I didn't realize that until I got off. It wasn't bleeding. There's a little scab on part of the missing hair. I feel like @#%$. Dude did not, of course, want to get back in the trailer. Would you? I didn't want to whip him. Pedro was standing behind him. I don't know what he did, but Dude got in. I didn't have any other way to get Dude home again, but that is the last time I let Pedro do anything or give me any ideas. After all of that, on the way home, Pedro was talking about hobbling him!! WTF? NO WAY!!

I want to put this down so I will remember to abide by it. Dude is my horse and I know Dude. Dude has only me to trust to not let harm come to him. I will use my own methods to get him bridled and saddled and ridden and loaded. If he doesn't get to go to the park or on trail rides, too bad. It is not worth forcing him. If I am in a position where he has to be rushed or forced, I will just let it go till the next time. I will be patient. I will not listen to any harebrained schemes of Pedro's. If Dude has to be left behind, I will happily watch my daughter ride Matt and I will work with Dude when I have time and I'm in the right frame of mind. Period. Stay tuned for more on Dude. He is a wonderful horse who deserves some time and patience.

Some Stupid Advice and Some Good Advice

One day during the broken foot era, Katharine came and saddled Dude for my daughter and she rode him no problems. Dude is good as gold for Katharine. Finally, last week, I declared my cast off and my foot well enough to go ride Dude with a saddle. I wanted the western saddle because of the padded stirrups. (Stupid). He was resistant to haltering, bridling and mostly to saddling. The neighbors were running a tractor and clearing their yard and making all kinds of unaccustomed racket. Their teenage grandson was hanging over the fence pestering me with questions and wouldn't take a hint to GO AWAY!! I was hot and sweaty and in pain. Because Dude wasn't tied up he wandered off and I couldn't chase him. My daughter was riding Matt and Dude was following him. I settled for haltering Dude and leading him around, giving him carrots when he halted and acted nicely. I tied him up loosely and petted him.

Pedro arrived and laughed at me because it had been 2 hours since he called and I hadn't gotten Dude saddled. Lexie showed up to watch and assist. Pedro said he could teach Dude to stay tied up to be saddled. I let him. That was a bad mistake on my part. But I was weak, defeated, shamed and angry/frustrated. So, Pedro tied him up to a tree and let him try to break free. Dude couldn't break Pedro's rope, try as he might. Dude bucked when they put the western blanket on him and he bucked and stepped toward Lexie when she put the western saddle on him. It took more than an hour, but Dude gave up. Lexie rode him walk, trot and canter and he didn't buck. I rode him and he was fine. It was dark so we could only ride up and down the field where I have a street light hooked up. Jeanine came over and she rode him, too. No problems. The next day Pedro came and we loaded Dude in the big stock trailer with Matt. We took him to the park to the big sand arena where we like to ride. It has a nice fence and a man who minds the park grades the arena every day. It is free to use. But by the time we got there it was getting dark. Everyone wanted to see Dude and pet him, but that was not good because he starts getting jittery when more than two people get around him. I couldn't get him saddled and I didn't want to let Pedro at him again. So, I rode him bareback in the arena and that was okay. That was when Lexie came to me and said she didn't agree with Pedro's methods with Dude and wanted to come work with me privately with Dude and try some methods she had used on an abused mare she used to own. Lexie came the next day and we worked on letting Dude circle and giving him release of the simulated girth (a lead rope around his girth area) and giving him a carrot piece when he stood still. She "tied" him, letting him circle and releasing the pressure when he stood still. The, she and I got him to load in the trailer with hardly any problem (she lunged him some before trying that) and I stood up front and shook a food jackpot. He ate and remained placid in the trailer even when he was finished with the food. I don't remember why we didn't ride except she or I had to go somewhere. Oh, yeah, we had to haul Matt to Greensburg to chase cows. That was fun.

Ha ha, Very funny, Dude

During the broken foot era, I rode Dude bareback a little every day. I would use a little chair to get on and off. On the third day of doing this (this is how smart he is), I walked him over to the little chair and tried to get him lined up for me to climb down. He reached out with his nose and tipped the chair over. I had to do a slow motion emergency dismount so I could land on my good foot. He hopped all around when I grabbed around his neck and started sliding off. He had to act all freaked out about it. This, I believe, is when I started calling him a drama queen. Then, I let him stand around the pasture for a couple of weeks while my foot healed and I worked on Matt with my daughter.

Dude has a Set Back in his Rehab

I got my fences done and the barn started here and was able to bring Matt and Dude home at the end of September. In the meantime, I had met some people who had horses also and started hanging out with them. they had trailers and trucks and all that good stuff and I didn't.

The day we picked up Matt and Dude we took Matt to team penning. The next morning, before I got to do anything with Dude, I broke my foot (tripped over the dog). I spent Saturday morning at the ER.

When I got back from the ER my new horse friends arrived unanounced with trailers full of horses and kids for a big welcome the new horses party.

Here's where things went South for awhile: By the time I was ready to bring Dude home from Big Tree, I had him standing pretty still for me to saddle. But on this day, with my broken foot, I was inside getting my clothes changed and didn't watch my friends saddle Dude in a western saddle. They told me later that Dude reared when they were trying to saddle him and also set back and moved the horse trailer he was tied to. Poor Dude, set upon by strangers trying to put a western saddle on him. He must have thought he was back at where he was abused. When I got on him he backed up and backed up. Naturally, Pedro and Lexie tried to catch him. This made it worse. I made them get back and put my hand on his neck and said, "Dude, its Mama, its okay." And then he was fine. I rode him up and down the street with my foot in a cast. He knew I was hurt. He trotted ever so gently with me. After I rode him, a teenage girl rode him, too and he was fine. I went in the house and took a pain pill because my foot hurt! A couple of days later when I went out to try and saddle him, Dude was right back to where he had been when I first started working with him. Very nervous and untrusting. And I couldn't hop around fast enought to lunge him or keep up with him for saddling while he circled. So, I rode him bareback and he was fine. I only walked and trotted because I'm not very good at riding bareback. I felt really precarious and really fearful because I was already injured and being injured is so damn inconvenient for all the things I need to get done in life (single mom, full time job, long commute, full care of 2 horses).

Dude Gives me the Jumping Bug

The last lesson at the barn before the purchase would be final Katherine set up a little cavaletti course and we were to trot over them. She made the last one a little higher (maybe 1 foot) and Dude popped over it and began to canter.

Oh. My. God.

I got the jumping bug again bad!! I really thought I was too old for that stuff, but it sure is fun and I'm only 47!!! We jumped and jumped that day!

How Dude got Saved from the Auction and Upgraded

The next week when I had to get BO to saddle Dude again she swore at him and vowed to take him to the sale barn as he was such a pain in the ass. "Oh noes!! I said, don't take him to the sale barn, sell him to me!!" She didn't think I was serious, but I was. After that week the BO went out of town and we started taking lessons with Katharine. Dude will do anything for Katharine. She has been riding there for 10 years. Katharine got me over my Dude fear on the ground. Riding him was great, too. We started cantering and he did some little tricks with me (half hearted buck, head toss and sharp turn to the left), but after the first time I just rode it out because Katharine said that is the worst he does and I could see through his bluff. He was fun to canter and all. The next Sunday we took a long trail ride. He was great and steady on the trail. He would rather go around water or jump it, but he jumped carefully with me and I stayed on. He didn't seem to mind that I yanked out some of his mane - tee hee. I told Katharine I was serious about buying Dude and she said he couldn't go without Matt as they were so bonded. Matt is one of the oldest and best school masters, but the BO was willing to sell him as he is 21 now and she is always saying she is going to sell all the horses and the barn. So Matt is perfect for my daughter right now and that is working out great! Week after week I worked with Dude and I got to where I could bridle and saddle him. If I lunged him first he was much better. Also, I got a dressage saddle with long billets so it would be easier to get his girth done. He was really FAT this summer. I used a lot of baby carrots on him, too. I got him to be still when I would try to mount by just indicating I was going to lunge him again if he didn't. He's very smart.

How I Met Dude

I was learning to ride again for the third time in my life. One day at lessons at Big Tree, the two oldest school masters were both too badly in need of shoeing so I got assigned to ride Dude for the lesson. On my daughter's endorsement of "Dude is great once you get on him!!" I agreed to ride him. When I put his hackamore on he slung it off his head and into the side of the barn making a great and dramatic scene. That freaked me out. The Barn Owner (BO) got him bridled and saddled for me while I cowered in my car smoking a cigarette. I did not want to ride him after all of that, but I did. And he was smooth and good and lovely at the walk and trot. And he is beautiful. The BO said one of the barn girls had worked with Dude a lot and had gotten him to the point of standing still for all tacking and rode him all over the arena over the jumps on a loose rein. Plus, he was reputed to be great on trails. One lesson, I asked the BO to get on Dude and ride so I could see how to do it right. When I saw her riding Dude I fell in love (with Dude). He put his beautiful head down, collected and moved like silk.

About Me

I grew up on 40 acres with horses and cattle and goats and chickens, etc. We always had some horses around.

I started out on Red, the horrible Shetland pony at about age 5. After that I wouldn't ride until about age 10. I took saddleseat lessons at a Tennessee Walking Horse barn. I had my lessons on the greatest little lesson pony ever and got over a lot of my fears. We, my friend, Pam and I, were supposed to get to the level to show her TWH horse that her dad had bought. Something happened and we never got that far. Meantime I got a Red Roan Mare named Strawberry whom I rode Western at my house (40 acres). She was probably a QH. I never really bonded with Strawberry, but I rode her every day dutifully. We went to drill team practice (to ride at the opening of the rodeo!) a couple of times, but for some reason, known only to my parents, I never got taken back. She was a kicker, so I got sent to the back of the line. LOL. I got busy partying and going to college and law school and didn't ride any more for a lot of years.
At age 30 I was living in Dallas and started taking hunter/jumper lessons again. [Note that at about this time, unknown to me, Dude was born!!]. I had to get my balance back again and pretty much re-learn to ride. Did weekly lessons at 2 barns there and again in Edgewood when I moved to Albuquerque. The Edgewood barn had only dressage so I got into that. Divorce, moved back home to Louisiana. Rode friends horses here and there until my daughter was about 6. I put my daughter in lessons at Big Tree (name changed to protect the innocent). I always wanted to ride, but figured my day was over and it was my daughter's turn.

My father had been a horseman all his life he wanted my daughter to follow that tradition. My father died about 4 years ago. My daughter was promised a horse for her 10th birthday (this year). We started shopping for horses in January. I got the horse fever and started taking lessons with her.

About Dude

Dude is a 17 year old AQHA registered (Quarter Horse) named Breakers Bar Dude. He is sorrel with a Christmas Tree shaped star. He reminds me of the Shetland pony I had when I was little named Red. Dude was born in Tennessee and I don't know much after that. Dude's grandsire was Sonny Dee Bar who was a big AQHA champion halter and performance. Dude has a half brother (same sire, The Circuitbreaker) standing at stud in Arkansas. Somewhere around 10 years ago Dude was owned by a "middle aged guy with a beer belly" (per the barn girls) who died of a heart attack and the Barn Owner (BO) "inherited" Dude. This barn has about 20 lesson horses (hunter/jumper) of which Dude was one for a long time. He doesn't seem 17 at all and likes to jump. He's a very pretty mover.

Something bad happened to Dude at some point. He is very head shy, sets back if tied and is extremely claustrophobic. When the girth is tightened, he compulsively walks in a circle. It is best to let him just do that otherwise he blows up and acts out without regard to his own safety. He's not aggressive and is completely safe on the ground unless being bridled or saddled.

Oops