Wizard Session 17: To the Left, To the Left…
12/4/2008: Arrived at the barn when the horses were being brought in for feeding. While I do feel guilty making horses work at mealtimes, it’s a necessary part of their training. Wizard is not a particularly barn-sour or herd-bound horse, which is refreshing. He seemed a little surprised when the grain cart passed him on the crossties, but he did not show any frustration.
Wizard is getting better about grooming. There is far less sensitivity around his poll and he lets me play with his mane without getting as concerned as he used to. He is still ticklish and he prefers soft brushes, but I need to get the dirt off of him, especially since he is unblanketed.
After tacking up, we went into the outdoor arena walked a few laps in hand, and then worked on clicker training. During Session 16, I taught Wizard how to put his head down. Today, he remembered his new trick after two attempts. Clever boy!
After our short clicker session, I asked Wizard to move forward in each direction on the leadline in preparation for longeing.
Then we longed to the left. Since Wizard does not know his verbal gait commands (walk, trot, canter, halt) yet, I usually ask for a walk but allow him to trot if he chooses to trot. He picked up a trot right away and longed like a pro!
I asked him a halt after a few rotations and changed directions. For the past 3 or so sessions, he has been far more willing to go to the right. But those sessions were indoors at night with no distractions. Today was a bigger challenge. And he was not ready for it. Wizard balked several times when I asked him to longe to the right. He broke into a nervous canter and then stopped dead and faced me. When he faces me, it is difficult to get him going again since I cannot point the whip at his hip for that forward movement that I need. I am not sure if he was trained to face a person like Parelli horses or if this is just something he does when he’s insecure. Each time, he’s move forward for a quarter of the circle and then slam on the brakes and face me. If I did nothing, he’d just stand there. I would walk to his side, disengage his hind end, and when he was moving forward, I’d position myself at his hip to drive him forward, but he was too quick each time and would screech on the brakes. In order to get SOME sort of forward movement, I led him at a walk on his right side in a circle as if he was longeing. He was insecure and kept walking behind me.
We went into the indoor arena to try a change in scenery and hopefully make the session less distracting, but he did the same thing indoors. The door to the arena was wide open and he stopped each time he got to the door. I walked him in hand to the right on his right side again and he again walked behind me. Once I had forward movement, I called it a day. There was no point in stressing him or confusing him further. He would volunteer a trot to the left, so I really don’t know if it’s a physical issue or a mental issue.
We left the indoor arena and did more in-hand walking around the property to finish our session. He was more than happy to walk with me, walk over poles, and do circles in each direction. He felt less stiff than he has felt in the past few sessions. I’m totally baffled.
When we were done, I unsaddled him and my mom took some conformation photos:
I hand-grazed him, brushed him quickly, and wormed him with Ivermectin dewormer. All the while, he was in a good mood and quite affectionate.
I’m not sure what to think. Will he listen better when his feet are rebalanced? Is it a bad habit? I hate the idea of side reins on a green horse so I’d like to avoid them if possible- I feel like they would just close “the door” a little on his forward movement.
For now, my plan is to go back (AGAIN) and work on him moving forward every time I ask. I’m thinking of trying a longeing cavesson so he’s not pivoting on bit pressure. He looked more comfortable today than he has looked in a while so I’m really not sure if anything is bothering him. He was not spooky at all and was his usual mellow self whenever he was not rushing and spinning on the right.
Signing off,
A Confused Lefty
Wizard Session 16: It’s Go Go, not Cry Cry
12/1/2008: Something good is happening! Wizard and I had a great session today. Like my favorite quote from Grindhouse, Wizard was all go-go and no cry-cry. And no kick-kick, either.
We started with a clicker training lesson. Wizard only learned the basics from me a month or so ago and he was a little rusty. I re-familiarized him with the process (target, click, treat) and he came back to the process fairly quickly. I also introduced a new behavior, “head down”. He caught on to it like a bright little student. Perhaps Wizard will live up to his name, after all.
After we finished with the clicker, I tacked him up and brought him back out to the arena for longeing. Wizard longed very nicely, trotting in each direction without stopping a single time! More progress!
After he longed (about 5 minutes), we did some more in-hand work. We walked over poles, walked and trotted patterns, and did several walk/trot transitions. Wizard seems to be building strength since he can follow me with ease. During the first few sessions, he was not as good with his feet or his balance. Now, he is learning to follow me and seems a tiny bit better with his balance. We ended the session with carrot stretches.
When we walked back to the barn, I noticed that he was a little short-strided in his front end. I’m hoping that this is simply tender soles and as his hoof gets rebalanced, he will be more comfortable. He also does a fair amount of “clicking” in his legs, back, and neck as he works- it sounds like he has gotten arthritic over the years and I hope that this light work will help him manage it.
Something felt really good during the training session today. I felt very confident with Wizard, and we were both very comfortable with each other. Since I lost Alibar, I have not felt as confident around horses, even though I’ve ridden since I was a little girl. Today, I felt some of that old spark. My Equine Therapist is doing a great job.
Aqueduct November 2008: Highs and Lows
Pictured: Photo from Budmeister’s Flickr photostream of me and Jessie modeling for the remote camera. Note the focused expression on my face. It’s a tough job standing on a track pressing a button, you know.
Happy trainer, happy horse. The convincing winner of the Remsen is on the Derby Trail. Exciting news for the connections of Old Fashioned, a colt by Unbridled’s Song. Trained by Larry Jones and owned by Fox Hill Farm. What a thrill this must be for this horse and his fans. Brings me back to my childhood and the Derby Fever I felt for my favorite racehorse, Sunday Silence. I remember carefully cutting photos of Sunday Silence out of our local newspaper and taping them on my bedroom walls. He was magical in my young mind.
But the news was overshadowed by injuries in the other two marquee races at Aqueduct. Springside, winner of the Grade 2 Demoiselle, took a bad step after the wire and fractured her pastern. She was vanned off, stabilized, and is at New Bolton receiving the best of care. I join the rest of racing fans in hoping for a speedy and safe recovery.
Later that afternoon, Wanderin Boy broke down on the turn in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile. My little group of colleagues stood on the photographers’ platform in the inner rail watching the race unfold on the monitor. When the horses hit the turn and we saw what happened, it was painful to be trapped there, shooting a hollow victory. I felt a glimmer of hope when I saw the horse ambulance load him. He was vanned off for treatment but his injuries were inoperable and he was euthanized. I extend my sincere condolences to the connections of this game and resilient horse- it must be devastating to lose a horse like him. Steve Haskin of the Blood-Horse wrote an insightful, strangely prophetic piece about Wanderin Boy’s career and health issues in October and had to end the chapter with a thought-provoking memorial yesterday.
As a horse owner who recently lost a very special horse, I think that my current mental condition makes me a little more vulnerable to reacting emotionally to the breakdown of a horse like Wanderin Boy. These stories also bring me back to my childhood. I was in grade school when Go For Wand suffered a catastrophic breakdown in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but it had a profound impact on me. I felt like I could not be a horse lover and also be a racing fan. I lost enthusiasm for the sport; while I was still a casual fan, it was several years before I put my heart into racing again.
As a horse lover and a fan of a variety of equine disciplines, there is a conflict within me whenever I hear news of a breakdown. Can changes in breeding, racing surfaces, and training ever truly prevent deaths caused by racing? How do racing-related deaths measure up to fatal injuries caused by other equine sports? Is racing humane? Are my other favorite equine sports humane?
I read everything I can about equine health and science in order to educate myself about our sports. I educate through my photos and share everything I can about racing with people who are not familiar with the sport. When I see a good trainer who cares for his horses and who properly conditions them, I do see happy horses. I see horses who are exercised daily, fed the best feeds, and are maintained like the athletes that they are. I am a fan of these trainers and these trainers are the ones who keep me coming to the track, camera in hand, to capture the next Sunday Silence.
Wizard: Rides 14 & 15… Brought to you by the Letter K
Ride 14: 11/24/2008
After work, I drove to the barn. I spent a while walking Wizard in hand and working on asking him to move away from pressure. When we longed, he stopped a few times but moved forward willingly. My friend was working her (also green) mare in the arena. Wizard and I stood quietly while she rode her mare for a few laps around the arena in each direction. When the were done, I rode Wizard. We stayed at the walk and he was fantastic- forward, relaxed, and willing. At one point in the ride, he stopped. I gave him a verbal cue, coupled with a squeeze and a tap of the whip to enforce the forward movement. He listened and continued forward.
He felt a bit stiff on his right front foot, though. I’m still trying to figure out if he is arthritic or if there is a bigger physical issue underneath it all. He was not limping, but felt a little stiff. It did not seem to affect his mood or willingness to work. I walked him around the barn a few times and listened to his footfalls. I hear unevenness in the right front and left hind feet. I saw no stone bruises and felt no heat. The next day, he was out gallavanting with JR so he does not seem to be in any discomfort.
Ride 15: 11/27/08
Gobble Gobble! After Thanksgiving dinner with my family, my husband and I headed over to the barn to visit Wizard. Wizard seemed more interested in eating hay and relaxing in his stall than in meeting my other half, but he complied with my requests.
He is still sensitive about grooming and anything but the most soft brush makes him react. He is not mean about it, but he always tells me how he feels. I tacked him up and brought him in the indoor arena. The arena was filled with jumps. At first, Wizard gave them all a look but when I ignored them, he did as well.
We worked in hand on moving forward away from pressure. We stayed at a forward and relaxed pace at the walk. Then I asked him to move away from a dressage whip. To the left, he moved away wonderfully. To the right, by the letter K in the arena, I asked him to move forward two steps and he KICKED OUT! Maybe that’s what the letter K stands for in dressage. I growled my forward request one more time and was slightly more emphatic in my cue (a tap instead of a tickle) and he behaved immediately. I think that the kick was part of his resistance to go forward. I was sure to have plenty of rein so he could go forward and he was not too close to the wall so I do not believe that it was operator error. I think he’s resistant to the right for some reason.
We moved on to longeing at the walk and he was great. Did a few laps to each side without stopping a single time.
I put on my helmet and rode him for about 5 minutes. He was just as well-behaved as he was on Monday, but he was playing with the bit a little more. He tensed up going to the right but never even broke to a trot- I was able to keep him forward. When I ask him to change directions, I use an opening rein and we do a large Figure 8 shape. When I was happy with his walking, I halted him, dismounted, and told him what a clever and wonderful horse he is. He seems to like that part. Then we did a little more in-hand work, asking for walk and trot transitions.
When I walked him back into the barn, he was off for about 7 steps. Right front again! Are his soles tender? I feel no heat in his legs and he walked right out of it. An abscess brewing? I’m stumped and I’m not quite ready to throw more money at him yet. He obviously is sound enough to rear, buck, and gallop all day in his paddock. He seems to move out fine in the arena. I plan to work from the ground with him next time to see if I still see the soreness when he is not ridden.
My dressage buddy Stephanie had suggested long-lining him in one of my last ride reports. It’s a great idea and once we get him out of his stopping habit, I think it would be a great exercise to add to our routine. After seeing him kick out, though, I’m not so willing to get back there yet. I tried to teach myself how to long-line with Alibar and even with a perfectly-schooled horse, we ended up in a knot a time or two.
Tomorrow, I’m on my way to Aqueduct to see the Cigar Mile. Will report back with photos!
Spotlight: Hickory Ridge Farm Part II
I returned to Hickory Ridge Farm for another portrait session. It was three weeks since my last visit to the farm and what a huge change in the weather! Last time, we had golden leaves and a little cool air. This time, we had bare trees and an arctic blast! But our participants were game and the horses were fun as always. And Ghost the Barn Cat got in on the action and posed for a few frames.
First up was Echo, a Quarter Horse gelding. Though the winds blasted through the trees, he stood his ground and posed gamely. I love his expressive eyes.
I had a special request for a customer favorite that I take, a portrait of a horse with a black background. But this time, it was TWO horses: Shiloh, a smart and sassy Quarter Horse mare, and Lakota, a versatile and easy-going Appaloosa gelding. They were veterans of the process and stood like they were models in Horse Illustrated.
I get a lot of inquiries about this type of photo. Many photographers think that the image is manipulated and the background is replaced- that would be much more difficult than what I do! I stand the horse in a barn entrance, set the exposure, and shoot. I do remove distracting windows or beams but the photo is not very different from what comes out of my camera.
Then I met Cisco, a black and white overo Paint gelding. He’s another versatile guy. He must have had some halter training at some point in his life, because he squared up his feet and posed beautifully for every shot. He also floated around the paddock when we did our liberty shots. He was actually more animated than expected, because he heard a loose horse headed our way from the nearby state park. It was a chilly but fun day- horse people are a hardy bunch!
Wizard: Sessions 12 & 13… Lazy rider, lazy horse
I’ve read that cribbing is a sign of equine intelligence. That sounds about right to me. Whenever I take Wizard out into the arena without a plan, he thinks one up for us. He’s a naturally quiet and laid-back horse and he’s also quite deliberate. During Session 13, we quietly stood while I watched Mary being longed. While we waited, Wizard fiddled with the lead rope and eventually had about two feet of it in his mouth and chewed it like a piece of Big League Chew.
Session 12 was similar to Session 11, but with a little spice. Wizard heard something on the other side of the arena and did a few laps around the longe line with his tail flagged, trotting like he was in training for the Spanish Riding School. But he always stops on a dime when I ask. Wizard has plenty of WHOAH and a lot less GO.
Session 13 was quick and a little poorly-planned. We stood quietly in the arena while horses worked and then I longed him. I was lazy and did not tack him up- he just had a halter and a longe line. He behaved as always but he also stopped several times on the longe. There were lots of horses at the barn for team sorting so I think that Wizard was a little out of his comfort zone. And when he’s out of his comfort zone, he stops. But he got back to longeing every time I asked- it was my fault for being so casual about a training session.
Back to business for Session 14!
Homeward Maryland: Welcome Mary!
This week marks a special milestone for my friend Christie. On Wednesday, she welcomed her official first horse into her life.
For over 13 years, Christie leased Alibar. She was great match for Alibar because she is a lovely rider and knowledgeable horsewoman. Our riding styles (and opposite schedules!) made the lease agreement ideal for everybody involved. Over the years, we became very good friends. She helped me care for Alibar through my college years and was there until the very end. I can remember being devastated when the veterinarian told me that Alibar had navicular changes, but Christie was so smart and supportive. With proper shoeing and responsible riding, we kept him going strong for many years after the diagnosis.
After Alibar passed away, it was time for Christie to follow her dream. She purchased a beautiful 7 year old black Morgan mare named Mary. I am so proud of Christie for being brave enough to bring new horse into her life. Mary is a beautiful mare and she’s a lucky girl to have such a good owner. A new chapter has begun for my friend- I hope that Mary the Morgan is as good of a first horse for Christie as Alibar was for me.
Wizard: Session 11… Progress!
Photo above: it appears that Wizard is feeling fine and dandy after his chiropractic adjustments. Here he is goofing around with his buddy JR.
Session 11 (11/20/08): A breakthrough! It seems like Wizard has decided that I’m not so bad. Until now, it seemed like he’d rather be eating, sleeping, or cribbing instead of hanging around with me. And who can blame him? I tickle him with my silly brushes, mess with his feet, put saddles on him, and fiddle with his mane. But on Thursday, he seemed far more content to stand on the crossties and he seemed to enjoy the fussing.
When I longed him, we had more progress. I’ve been working on cueing Wizard to move his shoulder when I apply pressure in the form of my hand or a tapping whip. I tap the whip about as lightly as a person taps a pencil on a desk. When he moves, I stop. I’ve been working on this in order to strengthen my “go” cue on the longe line. When Wizard is longeing, he sometimes comes to a halt and faces me and it’s a little bit of reorganizing and cueing to get him going again. But on Thursday, he longed without stopping once! We also worked on walking forward, alternating trotting and walking, and a little bit of backing up in hand.
Gave Wizard Strongid wormer– he was quite good about it.
Alibar’s Bon Bons: Soft Horse Cookie Recipe
Alibar’s Bon Bons
My mom’s recipe, created especially for our dearly departed Alibar. These treats are chewy, which was perfect for his bad teeth and they were his favorite treat of all.
One bottle (12 oz.) molasses
One jar (23 oz.) applesauce
One cup rice bran or corn oil (can add more)
Six cups old fashioned oats
Three cups whole wheat flour
Mix all ingredients together. More flour or oats can be added if dough is too wet or sticky to handle. Roll into meatball sized balls. Dough will be sticky – spray hands with Pam or water to keep dough from sticking to hands. Place on ungreased cookie sheet one inch apart. Bake in 300 degree oven for 1/2 hour – up to one hour until firm. Don’t let them brown. Remove from sheet while warm with spatula. Cool before storing. Store in a cool place or refrigerate- these treats spoil quickly in warm weather. This recipe can be doubled. You can also add extra oil or molasses – then increase the oats and flour to make a firmer consistency. You can use sweet feed in place of oats. Grated carrots or bran can be added, too.
Wizard: Session #10
I’ll call it a “session” since I did all groundwork with Wizard tonight. Rides 1-9 involved me actually climbing aboard ;^)
Since Wizard’s feet, teeth, and general alignment have all been adjusted recently, I decided to back up a few steps and start at the verrrry beginning with him. I want to work with his “buttons” and see how much training he has.
I applied Seashore Acres Sole Paint to Wizard’s soles in hopes of keeping him barefoot this winter. He has no trouble with the footing in the indoor arena but I see him get a little tenderfooted when we walk on the driveway to the arena.
When I groomed Wizard, he was sensitive at his poll and at his flank and the top of his lumbosacral joint. He was also goosey about having his belly touched. I happen to be a naturally brisk and firm groomer, so I have done my best to be gentle with Wizard’s Thoroughbred sensibilities. Hopefully this tenderness is at least partially related to my grooming habits. I also have only used my jelly scrubber and softest finishing brush in hopes of not tickling him too much. I noticed that Wizard is far less ticklish after he is worked.
Our goal was to determine the level at which Wizard can yield to pressure. Training green horses involves sensitization to certain cues and desensitization to others. You want a horse who is light to the leg and hand aids but who will not react to a flapping rein or a dangling stirrup.
Once he was tacked up, we went to the indoor arena and began our groundwork. We walked a few brisk laps around the arena (good exercise for me as well!), down the long sides as well as across the diagonals. Twice down each diagonal, I halted Wizard and asked him to move his shoulder away from me. I cued him with a dressage whip, gently tap-tap-tapping his shoulder while I verbally cued him with a cluck. No fear of whips in this horse! He just stood his ground and eyed me. I resorted to a poke with the butt end of the whip before he complied and moved each foot away from the pressure. I immediately stopped and praised him and walked forward. We did this a few times in each direction. He was far more responsive on his left side than on his right. This translates to his longeing abilities since he is fantastic to the left but stops and practically stands in my lap to the right. I need to have him reliably moving away from the whip in order to improve our longeing.
We also transitioned from a walk to a jog several times. I noticed Wizard lifting his head a few times in the upward transition- it appeared that he was using his neck as a balancing rod. He was quite happy to jog alongside of me. He leads beautifully. I wish I had a good pony horse to ride because I am sure that Wizard would also benefit from ponying work. And since he was a racehorse in his former life, he probably can pony quite nicely.
I asked Wizard to walk two rotations on the longe in each direction and guess what… he did not turn in on me! Good enough, end on a good note. Back to the barn, untacked, groomed, and fed him a few apples and carrots. I learned that he is not terribly responsive to pressure but he improved in just one session.
His winter coat is getting thick, which is great for him but more grooming for me. I decided to leave him unblanketed since we will not be doing anything too demanding this winter. If we had a more athletic work plan for the winter, I would have considered blanketing him.
So it was a good return to work for him. I hope to get back out to the barn this Thursday for our next adventure.
Rock and Racehorses: The Blog 