Post by Zoe RA on Nov 27, 2009 20:43:38 GMT 1
Rhapsody is a 12 year old Arab X New Forest who I first met two years ago when his owner, Jane, first bought him.
She had thought she was getting a been there done that sort of a pony, which, in fact, she was, but unfortunately, she was also getting a highly sensitive, rather nervous little chap who has needed a lot of input from Jane, Jane's riding instructor Sarah, and me.
We have worked on leading, long lining, being ridden alone, schooling, and most of all, both Jane's and Rhapsody's confidence. RA Rosie Jones came out not long after Jane bought Rhaps to do some ridden work with him, and whilst she was with them she did a bit of trailer training as Rhaps has a history of being reluctant to load.
But that was two years ago, and today Rhaps had to move to a new yard!
So, yesterday we did a bit of practicing, and although he hadn't entirely forgotten everything Rosie taught him about loading, he was rather sticky to start with. Taking it literally one step at a time, he was happy to go in, stand in with a bit of grub, then back out when I asked him too. Soon we were able to put on the breach bar and put the back up, so after a couple of ramps up we called it a day.
Today was moving day. Here he is waiting to be de-rugged , booted, and bandaged.
One hesitation, and on he went. He traveled well (cross tied with no partitions and full width breast and breach bars), and only called out a few times.
By the time we got there, he was a bit sweaty but soon calmed down when we took him off the trailer and let him walk around his new yard, and walk into his new stable to have a look.
Then it was off to the field where he had a little hooly around, met the neighbours on both sides, a couple of lovely rolls, then down to the serious business of munching the grass
Ooooh, this is all new!
Meeting the neighbours
It is always worth doing the preparation before hand and not waiting until the morning you want to travel before remembering your horse isn't happy loading. You would be amazed how many people phone me up and say "can you load my horse for me in two days time please? We are moving and he absolutely HAS to go in ..................."! Drives me nuts! I do NOT do quick fixes, and it isn't like they didn't know the horse was unhappy loading!*sigh* lol!
MTA that if the right home came along, Rhapsody would be for sale as he needs a more confident rider/handler than Jane feels she is, and Jane wants a more confident horse than Rhapsody is. Only to a 5* home mind - he is a much loved chappy!
She had thought she was getting a been there done that sort of a pony, which, in fact, she was, but unfortunately, she was also getting a highly sensitive, rather nervous little chap who has needed a lot of input from Jane, Jane's riding instructor Sarah, and me.
We have worked on leading, long lining, being ridden alone, schooling, and most of all, both Jane's and Rhapsody's confidence. RA Rosie Jones came out not long after Jane bought Rhaps to do some ridden work with him, and whilst she was with them she did a bit of trailer training as Rhaps has a history of being reluctant to load.
But that was two years ago, and today Rhaps had to move to a new yard!
So, yesterday we did a bit of practicing, and although he hadn't entirely forgotten everything Rosie taught him about loading, he was rather sticky to start with. Taking it literally one step at a time, he was happy to go in, stand in with a bit of grub, then back out when I asked him too. Soon we were able to put on the breach bar and put the back up, so after a couple of ramps up we called it a day.
Today was moving day. Here he is waiting to be de-rugged , booted, and bandaged.
One hesitation, and on he went. He traveled well (cross tied with no partitions and full width breast and breach bars), and only called out a few times.
By the time we got there, he was a bit sweaty but soon calmed down when we took him off the trailer and let him walk around his new yard, and walk into his new stable to have a look.
Then it was off to the field where he had a little hooly around, met the neighbours on both sides, a couple of lovely rolls, then down to the serious business of munching the grass
Ooooh, this is all new!
Meeting the neighbours
It is always worth doing the preparation before hand and not waiting until the morning you want to travel before remembering your horse isn't happy loading. You would be amazed how many people phone me up and say "can you load my horse for me in two days time please? We are moving and he absolutely HAS to go in ..................."! Drives me nuts! I do NOT do quick fixes, and it isn't like they didn't know the horse was unhappy loading!*sigh* lol!
MTA that if the right home came along, Rhapsody would be for sale as he needs a more confident rider/handler than Jane feels she is, and Jane wants a more confident horse than Rhapsody is. Only to a 5* home mind - he is a much loved chappy!