Horsekeeping and training, pets and art by Connie Moses
Developing a natural seat and bonding with your horse. Ah, to be young and riding horses… (from youTube)
Bareback and tackless
playing around at home
Jumping/galloping bareback
Milo Bareback
Jumping bareback - Ride My Pony
Found this great blog on natural horsemanship and barefoot hoof care, Thoughtful Horseman Blog, by Maria Siebrand; just read every post, it’s not very long. Wonderful explanations I wish I had written!
Her voice descriptions on her youTube videos are also quite good, all in line with my previous training posts here!
Maria’s website the Thoughtful Horseman, has more concise info on barefoot hoof care, photos and horses for sale.
Just in the nick of time for a Christmas gift for Grandma, I finished this commission of handsome young CJ and his favorite dog Cooper.
CJ participates in the Therapeutic Riding Program at the Carriage Barn, to whom part of the proceeds from this portrait are being donated. (See Medieval Faire at the Carriage Barn.)
These are the two photographs from the client that I worked from to create the artwork.
José Vintém and the lusitano horse “Baucher” presents dressage in-hand work, to Ravel’s Bolero. There truly is magic in cooperative communication with the horse as an equal partner. (YouTube)
Brought to my attention by garupada, YouTube viewer, thank you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and PEACE TO EVERYONE.
I have met so many special children and adults through my volunteer work with therapy riding and it is my honor and privilege to introduce you to one of them, a very special little girl named Abby. This is her story.
Abby is 4 1/2 years old and is one of Nora’s riders (see blog Horse and Horse Lover in Therapeutic Riding). Abby was diagnosed with Autism a little over a year ago at the age of 3 1/2. Mom Laura and Dad Shaun call Abby the bravest little trooper around. In her short life, Abby has already had two heart surgeries and one eye surgery.
Abby with her fan club looking on!
At first, Abby developed a little slower than the typical child, but she had language skills and great social skills up to the age of 15 months when she seemed to withdraw and lose the language that she had developed. Abby was also diagnosed with Chromosome Rearrangement and as far as they know, she is the only child in the world with this particular anomaly.
Basically, all the chromosome info is there, but placed differently. Abby’s mom says that Abby is a complex child with many sensory and tactile difficulties. She is hypersensitive to some things and hyposensitive to others. Little sister Caitlin is Abby’s best friend and vice versa and they are both so good for each other. In fact, Abby will sometimes imitate Caitlin.
Abby preparing to ride therapy horse Passion.
Horseback riding is a great release for Abby and she laughs and smiles as if she is having the time of her life! Abby rides Passion whom you met in my Horse and Horse Lover in Therapeutic Riding blog.
Abby rides Passion with leader and sidewalker, and dog helps out!
Passion is a sweet horse who loves to take Abby for rides in the ring and outside around the barn. Abby also swims and goes to school, so Abby is a very busy young lady!
Abby making eye contact while she rides, a rewarding moment!
Now Caitlin is also riding Passion, at only 2 years old!! We take her for about a 5-minute ride after big sis Abby is done and Caitlin just loves it. Look at her little hands in the pictures…! Already, she knows just how to hold the reins and she sits so nice and tall… she’s a natural!
2 year old little sister Caitlin has have her turn too!
Video of Caitlin riding Passion…
Caitlin, happy as a clam…
She even looks down for the stirrup to put her little foot in! Caitlin already loves riding and is always reaching for Nora to put her on Passion as soon she sees that her big sister is done with her ride!
Caitlin goes to Nora for her ride!
Abby is such a joy to be around. She has a loving family who all come to watch her ride Passion every week. Abby seems to love riding and she sometimes will respond to her family with a glance at them as they watch her and call out to her. Evidence of what the power of love and horses can do!
______________
More about therapeutic on this blog
Other stories by or about HorseGal
Well, for the first time in 4 years, I fell off my horse last night at my lesson.
Ice and snow slid off the roof (it sounded like the end of the world!). I knew
what was happening because it’s happened before, but I never had any
problems with whatever horse I happened to be on. Cutie, the QH mare I was
riding, had just stepped up into a lope when it happened, and she spooked
big time.
I tried to save myself but there wasn’t enough time and off I went
and hit my back, then my shoulders and the back of my head,
which snapped back and hit HARD (another perfect example of
why everyone should always wear a helmet) and I somehow bit down
hard on my tongue too.
I remember thinking as I was lying there, “PLEASE, let there be somebody
else on the ground besides me”… but nobody else’s horse spooked–
just Cutie! Everyone else was PERFECTLY still, just standing
there watching. I also remember thinking on the way down (it’s
amazing how many thoughts you can cram into a few seconds!)
“Ok, this is sand, it won’t be a hard fall”… but it was.
But, I’m none the worse for it. Just sore today… thru my shoulders,
neck, lower back and, of all things, my tongue! My pride got the
worst injury. I was SO embarrassed!! After all the riding I’ve done,
you’d think I could stay on. Especially, since I heard the snow
and ice start to slide off the roof and I knew Cutie might spook.
I’ve even read so many articles on “What to do if your horse
spooks”. But, I couldn’t do anything but come off. It’s not something
you can practice!!
Anyways, Kerry had me settle down for a few minutes before I got
back on. She also had me take some deep exhales a couple of times
while at the walk. That settled me and sent the message to Cutie that I was
calm. Then Kerry put me right back into a jog and then a lope. She
(Kerry) was so great. You could see her professionalism and knowledge and
experience shine though. She’s really the absolute best at what she does
and I admire her so much.
The rest of the lesson was great and we did some awesome loping. You
know when you are perfectly balanced at the lope because it is such an
awesome ride… and what a rush!! This was also the very first time I’d
ever ridden Cutie. It was actually the very first time I’ve ever ridden a
mare at Kerry’s AND, I can’t believe it, but I’ve never ridden a gelding
outside of Kerry’s!! I didn’t realize that until last night.
Anyways, even though you are in a secure setting like a lesson,
anything can happen because horses are horses no matter
what the setting or how well they’re trained. I’m looking forward
to next week and I hope I get to ride Cutie. Another note about Cutie–
Kerry told me you are merely a passenger when you ride her. NO leg pressure
at all because she’ll take off like a rocket. All you do is tell her what
you want, and she does it. That was so amazing… just say lope (or jog or
walk), kiss, and off she goes! (Note: You should have seen the car outside
that was the recipient of all that snow and ice!! Fortunately, the car
wasn’t damaged).
Connie’s NOTE: HorseGal is lucky, but it happens to all of us. Horses are NOT push-button machines. I suppose there are ways to practice falling, how to hit the ground etc. I’ve heard thing like going limp, balling up, hit and roll, don’t try to break your fall with your arms… The best you can do is try to be empathic with the horse, and hope you can feel what he is feeling reflected in his body just quickly enough to react appropriately. And stay focused on them constantly, learn to recognize minute signs of tension or concern, watch their ears… every little nuance. It really is impossible!
More HorseGal tales
Who is HorseGal?
Sharing more of our backyard horses acting natural…
Curious Horses Interact With Man
While Hubby is house-keeping in his garden, the two brothers nap and momma mare forages. Seeing Hubby throw out an armful of sticks, Willy momma heads over to scrounge for tidbits, so the boys wake up and come running. Never would a horse miss an opportunity for a bite to eat! Hubby gives them hugs and pats…
Horses Being Groomed Groom Each Other
Our horses always love a good brushing or scratching, especially in the summer when they have bug bites. Using a plastic-toothed brush, I was playing with them while HorseGal took some clips.
Willy holds her head way up in the air so I can scratch her chin better. Then Glen comes along wanting his share, and he scratches mom while I scratch him. I love how their upper lip gets loose and droopy when they are so relaxed!
Mom Willy and Glendale sort of shove each other out of the way to compete for my attention. Another thing they both will do is to back their butt up to me to get a butt scratch. In doing this with loose horses, I have to be real aware of where they are moving around to avoid getting accidentally stepped on, especially if all 3 of them want scratching at the same time!
We’ve gone and bought a 4-wheel horse carriage!! Hubby has long wanted one– now with Gilford driving nicely and young Glendale doing so well learning to drive, an opportunity came up for a used one so we took the plunge! This is Gilford’s first hitch to a 4-wheeler.
Our visiting friend Kim helps us with hitching and fitting young Gilford.
After adjusting and checking harness, Gilford and I are ready to roll! On this day it looks like we should have a sleigh!
This 4-wheeler is called an Eagle. It is a multi-purpose, lightweight, convertible design, which can be adapted as a show vehicle or a competition vehicle, for a single horse or a pair. (Yes there are driving competitions, called CDEs or Combined Driving Events! Competition driving can be done with single horse, pair horses side-by-side or in tandem, three horses usually in a unicorn hitch, or four horses in-hand!)
We made only three short excursions out and back on this break-in drive. On the first trip Hubby headed up Gil and held his lead line while I drove, with no passengers.
Gilford trotting put to the Eagle 4-wheel carriage. Me driving, Kim and Morgan passengers. You may notice Gilford’s trot rhythm is a bit uneven and short strided as he feels his way through the dusting of snow on the pavement.
This used one, pretty as it is, is set up for competition use– note handles and step on rear where the Navigator holds on, who counter-balances the cart in competition while they are galloping around sharp turns doing cross-country hazards (an obstacle course!!!) by leaning his body weight out to the side. The driver is called the Whip. The facing rear seats, called wagonette seating, can carry 2 passengers on a pleasure ride (making it a 4-person vehicle).
My Hubby ready to take his turn, with Kim’s Hubby Jack aboard. The driver, or Whip, sits on the right; I assume because it is better vantage point to keep from running your wheels off the edge of the road…
Hubby and Jack head out with Kim and Jack’s daughter Morgan in the Navigator seat.
Video of Hubby walking out, passengers Jack in front and Morgan in rear, Kim walking behind.
Hubby trotting Gilford back uphill. Good load for a single horse, lucky for us Gil is big and strong (thanks to the Percheron blood!)
Gilford handled this new experience very well. We could tell he was aware of the extra weight and he accepted it well and was not at all nervous. He had to work a little harder, especially uphill. Going downhill, Hubby and I both were learning to use the Eagle’s foot brake (a Meadowbrook does not have a brake). We were higher above the horse and looking down, affording a better view of the horse. We will have to gain practice with the wider turning radius, and backing up a 4-wheeler is much more challenging.
The ride itself was spectacular; with this design, 4 wheels and 3 springs, the ride is smooth and no bouncing at all. (In a Meadowbrook cart you are essentially sitting on the shafts, and bounce with every stride of the horse as well as with uneven ground.)
The Eagle’s most desirable feature for us is that its shafts remove with pins and can be replaced with a pole setup for a pair hitch! Also, Hubby would like a forward-facing rear seat, and on this Eagle the wagonette seats/Navigator’s step is removable as a unit, and can be replaced with a rear double bench seat facing forward. So he has the option of dressing it up that way for pleasure drives and picnics someday.
Catch the scenery down the hill! Our favorite Lake Winnipesaukee, with White Mountains and the Ossipees behind.
Our good friend Kim who has Abby now is planning to get into competition driving with HER Hubby Jack! She already has a 4-wheel marathon cart– Jack is to be the Navigator! Will keep you posted on our progress, as we learn more about this and eventually as we prepare both our boys to drive as a team! Any advice is appreciated!! Stay tuned!
Related stories:
Combined Driving Event 4-in-hand
carriage driving posts
Go Abby and Morgan! These pix from Morgan’s mom show our former mare Abby, a Percheron/Morgan cross, enjoying her new little 9-yr. old person in a costume and other horse show classes.
According to Morgan, her slightly overlarge helmet was sliding down into her eyes from the weight of the fabrics, and she could barely see where Abby was going!
From mom Kim:
Most of these show how soft and responsive she is for Morgan. I couldn’t have asked for a better mount for her this summer. Abby’s such a good girl.
[per Kim:] I took her to Live and Let Live [horse rescue farm in Pembroke NH] last weekend to use as a demo for some of the volunteers. A few of them are getting ready to ride their horses so she was a perfect teacher. She’s as steady as you could ever want but she still makes you work for it which is good for them. They loved her, of course.
For related stories and more pix, see Abby and Morgan
Gladstone Combined Driving (from youTube)
Four-in-hand put to marathon carriage driven through tight maze obstacles in competition… Driver is referred to as the Whip and balancer behind is the Navigator. (Not my own video, regrettably.)
Though Hubby and I have NO aspirations to do this sort of stuff– way out of our league– still it is a thing of beauty! When our friends start to get into it, probably next year, we may be inspired to dabble in lower level competition driving.
| BLOG VILLAGE's Equine Webring Ring Owner: Janey Loree Site: BLOG VILLAGE Equine Webring |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Get Your Free Web Ring by Bravenet.com |
||||
