Post by laura on Aug 6, 2008 0:33:25 GMT 1
Our story goes back a long way ... to 1999
I knew little of Monty Roberts or Kelly prior to that ..... I think I had just about heard about the "horse whisperer" bit. I just knew that I did not fit into the "normal" in my then circle of horsey people friends. I wanted alternatives locally to what I was seeing but could not seem to find it . I was not on internet either then !!!!!)
I wasn't into competitions and did not like the riding schools around, I tended to just "enjoy" the horse I shared my life with then, a dales mare called Beauty. I had bought her after she had weaned a foal , she was my first very own horse (at aged 39) although I had loaned/ shared and looked after other peoples horses most my life. Less than a year later she was found dead in the field with no apparent cause of death.
I took her stuff to the local small rescue centre and there was encouraged ny the manager to get involved. A while later as a treat he let me ride his own horse, a lovely older mare. On only my second ride as I was cantering slowly round the field all of a sudden her front end went and we both sumersaulted. She had had a stroke and died.
I almost gave up all contact with horses at that point but it was with the managers encouragement I continued to help at the centre ..... he reminded me I was the first woman to get the start of trust with and touch a very damaged friesian gelding .
and here it was I met ....
The Tank
Her history as well as her behaviour was confusing ...... at times appearing so quiet ( almost asleep) she could also react to being approached by barging over people (she had knocked some to the ground) Sometime staff could get tack on her. sometimes not as she'd shake and try to take chunks out of person.
I dont know how but I ended up taking her home ....... and that's when the bigger picture began to come into focus... it was like she "woke up". Once turned out in the field she was very difficult to approach ....... even if we got close one tiny sudden movement would send her off. She appeared scared of almost anything but literally shook if anyone had a stick or whip in their hand. It became clear I had taken on more than anyone had anticipated. I was used to young / green horses but this was something else.
My instinct at the time was to let her be for a bit ..... I had a feeling she was a lovely natured horse with a lot of curiosity in her underneath all that scared / tough Tank. To the utter amazment of other liveries I took to going in the field to sit and read..... or fix the trailer...... or clean tack I wasn't actually using . I let Taz come to me !!!!!
Most of the advice I could find at the time ...... even at the rescue centre seemed more "dominating" than I liked and although I was making progress with the softly softly approach in gaining her trust I needed to find out more... and my new friend the internet held the answer.
I found out a lot more about this "IH" stuff, I read lots, bought the books and looked at the website / DG. Unfortunately at the time I could not afford for an associate to come out to see us ...... it was all I could do to afford to keep Taz and I had not yet been "convinced" of the method. It did not help that the only person I had seen who SAID he was IH associate pulled a pony he was seeing at the yard around in a rope halter till its face bled ..... and threatened to hit another horse that got in the way despite the fact he was riding in the horses field !!!!. I knew this could not be the right way because of what the books /website and DG were saying but I was wary !
Of course in retrospect I should have found the money ..... and for several years now I have known the luverly John Jones who I would have NO hesitation at all in leaving Taz with .... and maybe I would have made less mistakes. These days I would find SOME way of getting the money ......
So ..... I took it VERY slowly and thought carefully through each session. Not only did I want to build a relationship with Taz, we had to deal with "unwanted behaviour" like biting and barging. I wanted her to realise it was ok to be scared but not to injure humans. Sending away if she did "undesirable" behaviours while working loose (she would not step back ) seemed to be the kindest but clearest way of helping us both deal with these issues. Join up sounded a wonderful tool. I sounded out things on the DG and thought very carefully about the sessions.
It worked .......... it was like communication was beginning to take place , I was watching her reactions with more care and she was beginning to realise I was "listening" to her. ( although it wasn't long before I realised how powerful a tool it is and how easy to get wrong !!!! )
We moved on to working in a long line, trust work with legs (what... no way was Taz giving me them ;D) and despooking very slowly and carefully . Although here I must admit to mixing training methods as I introduced clicker training . Taz is best motivated by FOOOOOOD.
Gradaully we introduced TACK ... she HATED the sight of a saddle ..... when approached with one if she felt trapped like in a stable she reverted to barging ( actually over person if need be). If I put it on the floor she would BITE it !!!!.
Later we noticed that even once she generally accepted saddling the biting at saddle / person remained when she was in season. I wondered if this was initially why the fear of whip / people came about ... did she react because saddle hurt her and was hit with whip as retaliation ?? ( As everyone knows welshies are the worlds worst horse to try to "fight" with ..... they bear grudges ;D ;D ;D . ). Herbs and essentail oils helped a bit with this problem as did just leaving her in the field on "due" days
Taz also had problems with a bit that disappeared when I tried bitless so she has remained that way ever since.
We had to introduce her to traffic.... she was terrified
Taking her out and about we found out she was scared of.......... drains, windows, bus shelters, white stones ( like outside ountry cottages !) and ...... well just about everything
However gradually riding in the field became riding in town and country. Over the months and into years her confidence grew and we were able to take her to shows etc to pootle around and explore the wide variety of life ... .. My daughter did jumping with her and I had to share Taz with her for several years
It was most definatly not plain sailing ...... loads frustration (on both sides) and tears along the way. Time and again I thought I could not keep going........ times I thought I did not have the skills/ knowledge to help her properly and all I would do was damage her more!
BUt with the support of a friend and her horse who had supported our "different" methods and did not think I had "gone soft" ....... and being able to visit the DG........ I realised I did not really want to give up. I occasionally had to take time out , sometimes for weeks or months, so that long term we could both progress
We went on to doing pleasure rides / training endurance rides which we both loved ..... then transfering the long lining we had used for the groundwork to starting driving. We both liked that and we could involve the grandchildren much more as their numbers were growing ;D Taz adore smallish humans and gave them loads pleasure
However the worst was to come ... It turned out Taz had been stolen. The breeder had done loads to find her including adverising in the national horse magazines. He said she was well bred and wanted her back as brood mare. I was devasted.
I could see his point of view of course and knew that legally Taz (Maenerw Princess Di) was his property ...... but its not like returning a stolen car and then going out to get a new one . There was a two way relationship going on here and Taz's presence had helped me through a very, very hard time of my life personally ! It was only the help of the rescue centre manager who convinced the breeder I was not the thief and the story of what had happened that persuaded him to sell Taz to me.
It was a relief when we could then concentrate on enjoying ourselves and becoming involved in events. This had initially been difficult as bitless was not as accepted then as it is now ..... but people began to see we were not tanking off into the distance with no breaks or knocking people over because we could not steer !!!!
Another"issue" many people had to us partaking in driving events was that Taz did not have blinkers on.... a vital necessity to stop horses taking fright at vehicle apparently. . My theory then ( as is very relevant to Kelly's present campaign of preparing for things that frighten horses like grannies falling off ;D ) ....... is that its better to prepare, get horse used to potential events / scary things where the s*** might hit the fan and serious injuries occur. I was told by drivers of incidents when blinkers had come off horses head and the sight of the wheels of the carriage chasing them had made them bolt !!!! The logic of that to me is you must accustom horse to the wheels not hide them ....... so that is what we did !
Gradually we began to find people that were not as blinkered (pun intended !) and were prepared to come and see us working rather then just say NO. We took part in driving trec and did hors concurs driving trials at club level ( this convinced people you can steer bitless as there are only a few inches either side the wheels in cones course).
Our highlight was to take part in a demo competition of driving trec at three counties show a few years ago. Other competitors included included two district commissioners and two assistant district commisioners. Over the three days we got three second places .... and even led at one point. We got a 9 for our back up and given the course was designed for the little ponies not a log striding welsh cob I felt quite chuffed.
The placings themselves were never my expectation or intention (especailly given the experience and status of the "competiton" ) ..... the biggest buzz of all was that I had demonstrated to "the world" that we did not need the "traditional gadgets" or follow "traditional" ways in order to have a horse as safe as any of the others present on those days.
As a consequence the BDS officially accpeted that we could partake in events.
I know that bitlessness (or not) is not what IH is about ........... to me it is using the kindest way possible to have a safe and "happy" horse no matter the discipline we choose or the level we are at. It is about THINKING about what we do and how we interact with our horse . It is not excluding other trainers views and methods ( I like to go to silversand clinics and have tried centred riding for example). It is not just about riding either ....... there is just as much, if not more, emaphasis on the groundwork and preparation for life that can be applied to every equine no matter if they do a job ...... or even do a "job" at all.
So
Thank You Kelly (and Monty) and all the DGers from the old board and the new board. This was the first source I found to use when I NEEDED to find a way different from that I had been taught. Thank you For providing reassurance that I was not "mad" to try and follow my instinct that it was wrong to MAKE a horse do things.
Thank you most of all for being HERE so I could find friends via the DG that supported and encouraged me to stick to my beliefs
I knew little of Monty Roberts or Kelly prior to that ..... I think I had just about heard about the "horse whisperer" bit. I just knew that I did not fit into the "normal" in my then circle of horsey people friends. I wanted alternatives locally to what I was seeing but could not seem to find it . I was not on internet either then !!!!!)
I wasn't into competitions and did not like the riding schools around, I tended to just "enjoy" the horse I shared my life with then, a dales mare called Beauty. I had bought her after she had weaned a foal , she was my first very own horse (at aged 39) although I had loaned/ shared and looked after other peoples horses most my life. Less than a year later she was found dead in the field with no apparent cause of death.
I took her stuff to the local small rescue centre and there was encouraged ny the manager to get involved. A while later as a treat he let me ride his own horse, a lovely older mare. On only my second ride as I was cantering slowly round the field all of a sudden her front end went and we both sumersaulted. She had had a stroke and died.
I almost gave up all contact with horses at that point but it was with the managers encouragement I continued to help at the centre ..... he reminded me I was the first woman to get the start of trust with and touch a very damaged friesian gelding .
and here it was I met ....
The Tank
Her history as well as her behaviour was confusing ...... at times appearing so quiet ( almost asleep) she could also react to being approached by barging over people (she had knocked some to the ground) Sometime staff could get tack on her. sometimes not as she'd shake and try to take chunks out of person.
I dont know how but I ended up taking her home ....... and that's when the bigger picture began to come into focus... it was like she "woke up". Once turned out in the field she was very difficult to approach ....... even if we got close one tiny sudden movement would send her off. She appeared scared of almost anything but literally shook if anyone had a stick or whip in their hand. It became clear I had taken on more than anyone had anticipated. I was used to young / green horses but this was something else.
My instinct at the time was to let her be for a bit ..... I had a feeling she was a lovely natured horse with a lot of curiosity in her underneath all that scared / tough Tank. To the utter amazment of other liveries I took to going in the field to sit and read..... or fix the trailer...... or clean tack I wasn't actually using . I let Taz come to me !!!!!
Most of the advice I could find at the time ...... even at the rescue centre seemed more "dominating" than I liked and although I was making progress with the softly softly approach in gaining her trust I needed to find out more... and my new friend the internet held the answer.
I found out a lot more about this "IH" stuff, I read lots, bought the books and looked at the website / DG. Unfortunately at the time I could not afford for an associate to come out to see us ...... it was all I could do to afford to keep Taz and I had not yet been "convinced" of the method. It did not help that the only person I had seen who SAID he was IH associate pulled a pony he was seeing at the yard around in a rope halter till its face bled ..... and threatened to hit another horse that got in the way despite the fact he was riding in the horses field !!!!. I knew this could not be the right way because of what the books /website and DG were saying but I was wary !
Of course in retrospect I should have found the money ..... and for several years now I have known the luverly John Jones who I would have NO hesitation at all in leaving Taz with .... and maybe I would have made less mistakes. These days I would find SOME way of getting the money ......
So ..... I took it VERY slowly and thought carefully through each session. Not only did I want to build a relationship with Taz, we had to deal with "unwanted behaviour" like biting and barging. I wanted her to realise it was ok to be scared but not to injure humans. Sending away if she did "undesirable" behaviours while working loose (she would not step back ) seemed to be the kindest but clearest way of helping us both deal with these issues. Join up sounded a wonderful tool. I sounded out things on the DG and thought very carefully about the sessions.
It worked .......... it was like communication was beginning to take place , I was watching her reactions with more care and she was beginning to realise I was "listening" to her. ( although it wasn't long before I realised how powerful a tool it is and how easy to get wrong !!!! )
We moved on to working in a long line, trust work with legs (what... no way was Taz giving me them ;D) and despooking very slowly and carefully . Although here I must admit to mixing training methods as I introduced clicker training . Taz is best motivated by FOOOOOOD.
Gradaully we introduced TACK ... she HATED the sight of a saddle ..... when approached with one if she felt trapped like in a stable she reverted to barging ( actually over person if need be). If I put it on the floor she would BITE it !!!!.
Later we noticed that even once she generally accepted saddling the biting at saddle / person remained when she was in season. I wondered if this was initially why the fear of whip / people came about ... did she react because saddle hurt her and was hit with whip as retaliation ?? ( As everyone knows welshies are the worlds worst horse to try to "fight" with ..... they bear grudges ;D ;D ;D . ). Herbs and essentail oils helped a bit with this problem as did just leaving her in the field on "due" days
Taz also had problems with a bit that disappeared when I tried bitless so she has remained that way ever since.
We had to introduce her to traffic.... she was terrified
Taking her out and about we found out she was scared of.......... drains, windows, bus shelters, white stones ( like outside ountry cottages !) and ...... well just about everything
However gradually riding in the field became riding in town and country. Over the months and into years her confidence grew and we were able to take her to shows etc to pootle around and explore the wide variety of life ... .. My daughter did jumping with her and I had to share Taz with her for several years
It was most definatly not plain sailing ...... loads frustration (on both sides) and tears along the way. Time and again I thought I could not keep going........ times I thought I did not have the skills/ knowledge to help her properly and all I would do was damage her more!
BUt with the support of a friend and her horse who had supported our "different" methods and did not think I had "gone soft" ....... and being able to visit the DG........ I realised I did not really want to give up. I occasionally had to take time out , sometimes for weeks or months, so that long term we could both progress
We went on to doing pleasure rides / training endurance rides which we both loved ..... then transfering the long lining we had used for the groundwork to starting driving. We both liked that and we could involve the grandchildren much more as their numbers were growing ;D Taz adore smallish humans and gave them loads pleasure
However the worst was to come ... It turned out Taz had been stolen. The breeder had done loads to find her including adverising in the national horse magazines. He said she was well bred and wanted her back as brood mare. I was devasted.
I could see his point of view of course and knew that legally Taz (Maenerw Princess Di) was his property ...... but its not like returning a stolen car and then going out to get a new one . There was a two way relationship going on here and Taz's presence had helped me through a very, very hard time of my life personally ! It was only the help of the rescue centre manager who convinced the breeder I was not the thief and the story of what had happened that persuaded him to sell Taz to me.
It was a relief when we could then concentrate on enjoying ourselves and becoming involved in events. This had initially been difficult as bitless was not as accepted then as it is now ..... but people began to see we were not tanking off into the distance with no breaks or knocking people over because we could not steer !!!!
Another"issue" many people had to us partaking in driving events was that Taz did not have blinkers on.... a vital necessity to stop horses taking fright at vehicle apparently. . My theory then ( as is very relevant to Kelly's present campaign of preparing for things that frighten horses like grannies falling off ;D ) ....... is that its better to prepare, get horse used to potential events / scary things where the s*** might hit the fan and serious injuries occur. I was told by drivers of incidents when blinkers had come off horses head and the sight of the wheels of the carriage chasing them had made them bolt !!!! The logic of that to me is you must accustom horse to the wheels not hide them ....... so that is what we did !
Gradually we began to find people that were not as blinkered (pun intended !) and were prepared to come and see us working rather then just say NO. We took part in driving trec and did hors concurs driving trials at club level ( this convinced people you can steer bitless as there are only a few inches either side the wheels in cones course).
Our highlight was to take part in a demo competition of driving trec at three counties show a few years ago. Other competitors included included two district commissioners and two assistant district commisioners. Over the three days we got three second places .... and even led at one point. We got a 9 for our back up and given the course was designed for the little ponies not a log striding welsh cob I felt quite chuffed.
The placings themselves were never my expectation or intention (especailly given the experience and status of the "competiton" ) ..... the biggest buzz of all was that I had demonstrated to "the world" that we did not need the "traditional gadgets" or follow "traditional" ways in order to have a horse as safe as any of the others present on those days.
As a consequence the BDS officially accpeted that we could partake in events.
I know that bitlessness (or not) is not what IH is about ........... to me it is using the kindest way possible to have a safe and "happy" horse no matter the discipline we choose or the level we are at. It is about THINKING about what we do and how we interact with our horse . It is not excluding other trainers views and methods ( I like to go to silversand clinics and have tried centred riding for example). It is not just about riding either ....... there is just as much, if not more, emaphasis on the groundwork and preparation for life that can be applied to every equine no matter if they do a job ...... or even do a "job" at all.
So
Thank You Kelly (and Monty) and all the DGers from the old board and the new board. This was the first source I found to use when I NEEDED to find a way different from that I had been taught. Thank you For providing reassurance that I was not "mad" to try and follow my instinct that it was wrong to MAKE a horse do things.
Thank you most of all for being HERE so I could find friends via the DG that supported and encouraged me to stick to my beliefs