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Post by portiabuzz on May 23, 2014 11:27:07 GMT 1
thaks for the update beautiful pic, lovely scenery rather jealous lol !! sounds brilliant progress xx
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Aug 6, 2014 1:09:25 GMT 1
I seek advice please! The big day draws nearer and I want to choose the right headgear for TigerLily. I want something bitless, simple and kind. At the moment, I am considering these 2: Sidepull Sidepull with jaw strap (Both from: www.bitlessandbarefoot.com/bitless-bridles.php ) Very similar, but the first has a throat lash whereas the second has a strap thats goes round the upper jaw. I wondered which was more comfortable. She is used to a more throat lash feel from the headcollar, but comparing it to the photo of her in her headcollar below, I wonder if there is much difference? Or would it work to simply clip reins on to the side brass fitting of her head collar? Not sure if that would work? Is it likely to cause the brass fitting to dig into her face if pressure is applied to a rein? I think what I would ideally like it a couple of small rings on the edges of the noseband on her usual halter. But I can't find a headcollar with such comfy padding and sidepull rings anywhere! Or how about a Matrix Standard? I was initially put off by the triple ring - looked like a lot of metalwork to me. But maybe it will encourage better head carriage as the point of contact with the reins is lower. It seems to have more padding too, which I like.
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Post by crazycolt on Aug 6, 2014 8:52:11 GMT 1
Can't help with the bridle, but just want to say how inspiring you are. Congratulations and well done, to you both.
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Post by bertie666 on Aug 6, 2014 9:00:17 GMT 1
Given that you've done a lot with the dually, why not just put a pair of reins on that for now? Id make sure you do some in hand stopping and turning off it with 2 reins before getting on so she understands what you're asking, but at least its not a whole new language so to speak
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Aug 6, 2014 19:33:52 GMT 1
I decided to move away from the Dually a little while ago and just use a plain padded headcollar. The pressure of a Dually never helped anything much. It had always been an ethical grey area for me and once I understood that TigerLily's co-operation was dependent on our relationship and experiences together, I felt I was using it as a crutch for the times when she gets upset and hard to control. In those moments, pressure and force were never going to control her (unless taken to a level I just wouldn't go to), so I needed to learn other ways of communicating with her and managing her reactions as best I could. It's still a work in progress, but we have come a long way with it.
There is a different feel to the relationship too now we have removed that possibiity of pressure and force. Hard to describe, but it is good. So I want to stick with the very light approach with choice of headgear.
Today I tried putting reins on her green headcollar. It more or less worked and she steered (from the ground) better than she had ever done in the Dually, so I think we are on the right track. I am thinking now the Matrix will be the thing as it is adaptable to different styles and will give us some options as things develop to find what she responds best to.
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Post by portiabuzz on Aug 7, 2014 10:30:28 GMT 1
Go caroline!
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Sept 1, 2014 18:08:34 GMT 1
11 years ago, I met TigerLily and I knew instantly that she was my horse because I saw a golden spotlight on her and just felt and knew it. She was wild and untouched at the time and admittedly beyond my skill set at that point. Over the years I have tamed and trained her, holding fast to the passionate belief that the best relationship with a horse can be achieved with consent and without pain, excessive pressure, force or fear. There have been many who have ridiculed me for this belief (and also one individual who has told me she is the most rude and dangerous horse in the world and would break my back!), but also those who have understood, supported and helped. I have struggled to find the right way at times and was determined that I would not ride TigerLily until I could do so with her consent and happiness. Today was the big day! I would like to say massive thank yous to Sarah Weston and Ben Hart for teaching me, helping me and believing in us, Rod (my OH) for his support and help in my mission to lose 5 stone in preparation for this day, Tipi Jean and Patrick Kempe for showing me what a relationship with a horse can be, Vicki (my best friend) for supporting me and listening to the daily updates - and TigerLily for being her wonderful self. I am on cloud nine and I don't think anyone will get much sense out of me for a bit! We backed her in nothing but a headcollar and a bareback pad (one I bought from Kelly last week - so it was lovely to have her energy involved in it too as her teaching and Foundation Course played a big part in our journey). TigerLily was truly amazing, completely calm and happy about things. The best bit was when I slid off her for the 3rd time and she made a happy whicker sound (Wo-ho-ho-ho-ho), which means "Haven't I been clever? Now where's my treat?!". That was the best ending I could have dreamed off - better than I dreamed off over all these years!!! Here we are - with Sarah Weston holding TigerLily's head:
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Sept 1, 2014 19:32:31 GMT 1
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wills
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Post by wills on Sept 1, 2014 20:40:49 GMT 1
Excellent. You must be so pleased xx
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Post by happysnail on Sept 1, 2014 20:42:18 GMT 1
Beautiful. Had a wee tear up reading the blog. Well done
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Post by troop on Sept 1, 2014 21:37:55 GMT 1
I just burst into tears, what a lovely blog and what a beautiful relationship. This gives me hope for my herd of misfits lol. I often wonder if I'm doing it all wrong but seeing this I believe I'm taking steps in the right direction. Onwards and upwards for you both xx
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Post by portiabuzz on Sept 1, 2014 22:14:42 GMT 1
I am just so made up for you!!!! Wonderful amazing fabulous just don't seem to cut it xxx made me grin Sent from my SM-G800F using proboards
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Post by antares on Sept 1, 2014 22:17:03 GMT 1
Amazing Caroline!!
Very very happy for you
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Post by lizpurlo on Sept 1, 2014 22:50:42 GMT 1
How lovely, Caroline, what a joyful account of your relationship with the lovely Tiger Lily. I'm so thrilled that you've managed to back her at last, and she looks so relaxed and happy about it too. Marvellous. xx
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Sept 2, 2014 0:19:00 GMT 1
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and support. I am so happy I could burst tonight! I can't stop looking at the photos I dreamed this day would come but accepted it might not because TigerLily can be a pretty full-on kind of horse and I couldn't bear to go about riding her using the things that normally get used to control a horse like her. I would have rather failed in a spirit of gentleness than succeeeded in a spirit of force. It's early days I know, and there is so much now to learn and do together. But this was a very big hurdle and I give thanks for the nobility and graciousness of my lovely TigerLily who could have done what she wanted with her afternoon, but chose to come in from the wild and carry me those few precious steps. (I mean that quite literally! She was loose in the adjoining 56 acre farmers field when I arrived today and came home at liberty.) I also give thanks for and to RA Sarah Weston - who gave us both confidence and helped us to develop to this point in a framework of gentleness. It is so important to choose the right trainer to help you with your horse and I am delighted I chose her. Thank you Sarah! I only had one thing on my Bucket List - and today we did it
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