I am a country girl. I was born to run barefoot, play in lakes and ride my horses. Other than the years surrounding my time at college, I have lived most of my life outside the city limits, and enjoyed the freedoms that go with that. One such freedom has always been having access to places to 'ride out' on my horses. As I have gotten older, I have seen that being able to safely ride off your property is a luxury that we are slowly losing, and may someday disappear all together.
I have kept horses in a variety of situations, and some were where we had access to trails through surrounding woods, or we had permission to ride around farm fields or orchards owned by neighboring farmers. This is how it was when I was growing up; it was great fun to take the horses out with friends and just walk and talk. I have also kept horses at stables that were smack dab in the middle of a busy urban area, where there was very little riding out unless you could haul out. It is incredibly dangerous to cross a crosswalk on horseback at a busy intersection with six lanes of traffic, bicycles and drivers who know absolutely nothing about a horse - and think that the best thing to do is honk at them! I haven't done this myself, thank you, but I have seen people try it, and it always worries me. As soon as I was finished with school, I moved my horses out of the city, seeking that relaxed - and relatively safer - environment where I could ride out if I wanted.
And we found that place, or so we thought. I have come to the realization that it is becoming more and more difficult to find safe places to ride, no matter where you go. First, there is less land available for it, because of urban sprawl and because there is less public land available. More roads are paved, which increases vehicle speeds. And fewer people have horses than when I was growing up, so fewer people understand horses, and therefore, don't necessarily how to handle vehicles, ATV's, bicycles or dogs around them. And maybe, just maybe, people these days are a little more self-involved, rushed or too distracted by techno gadgets to pay attention while they are driving.
Nowadays, if you are riding your horse next to a road or on public land, you really need to prepare as if your life could be in danger. Always wear bright colored, reflective clothing, even if it isn't dark when you go out. Know your route, and take roads that have wide shoulders or ditches where you can take your horse well off the road when traffic passes. Do not assume that the driver (or rider) coming at you understands a horse's body language - or is paying attention to it. Wave your arms or hold up your flat palm to ask them to slow down if possible. Be ready to jump down and just hold your horse if he seems antsy, and he risks putting you in front of traffic. And please be prudent when taking young or untrained horses out. It is kind of unfair, because the only way a horse really gets an education is to be exposed to things, but you really must choose carefully when and where that experience comes.
I live in an area where the roads have many shallow hills, just a big enough dip to hide a vehicle who is speeding your way. Not very far away from my house, a farmer was nearly killed when he was hit from behind by an SUV while driving his tractor down a rural (dirt) road. The SUV was flying had come up over a hill into a dip, where there was no way to see the tractor or slow down. I have had similar things happen to me while riding, as you maybe have too. We have had so many close calls that we no longer drive our pony down our road. The shoulders are so steep that it would cause the cart to tip if we had to get over there, and there would be little contest between our little old cart and a truck doing 65. And again, I live way out in the country, where, you'd think, you'd be able to drive or ride your horse. But reality is that those days may be ending.
So drivers - let's raise some awareness. In my neighborhood, the people that speed past when we ride down our road, without giving us an inch, are not my neighbors that I know have horses. So I have to assume, dear reader, that you are also a horse person and thus, slow down when you encounter someone riding next to the road in your area, maybe even give them a conciliatory wave and a smile. I also hope that if you think they are having trouble with their horse, you would stop completely or pull off. Twice in my life I have witnessed people being dumped next to the road (not because of me or my driving btw), and I got out and caught the horse for them. Let's mentor that kind of behavior in other people. Let's show our passengers the correct way to handle a vehicle when horses are near the roadway; by slowing down, being aware and courteous. When we are passengers of people who aren't horse-savvy, a polite heads-up to the driver might, in fact, save someone's life, or their horse's. Maybe by doing our part, someone will do the same for us when we are the ones on the horses.
Happy Thanksgiving and take care out there!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Extending a Warm Welcome
How diversified is your barn? Do you own horses from several breeds, or are they all of the same breed? I am wondering this because I myself love all breeds of horses, but have seen that not everyone is as accepting of breeds outside of their chosen one. And I often wonder why there aren't more horses from 'other' breeds competing within associations that aren't breed specific, like in the NRHA.
I believe part of being open and accepting, not to mention knowledgeable, of other breeds is about where a person is raised. I was raised in Southwestern Michigan, and when I was growing up, there were many breed associations that thrived there, and a person might see literally any breed being shown at the local fairs and horse shows. Through 4-H and showing at open shows, I had friends who showed Morgans, Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, Hackneys, Drafts, warmbloods, and everything in between, and because sportsmanship was something we were raised on in 4-H, we didn't treat someone differently because they rode a different breed or style. We were all horse lovers, and held a common thread. And if there was a reining class offered, people would give it a shot, whether they rode a Quarter Horse or a mule.
Another truth is that I was raised on the conviction that a good Arabian could do anything - I believe that it was even the Registry's slogan in the 80's...."The Versatile Breed." My horses all rode English, western, sidesaddle, did halter, trail, jumping, and the list went on. At around the age of 12, I fell in love with riding western, and set out to make my purebred gelding into a western pleasure horse, which he happened to love. From there, I met a trainer who introduced me to reining, and I was blown away. It became my obsession, but it was obvious that my hard-working little gelding was not cut out for it. It was difficult for me to take, and stands out now as the moment when the budding trainer inside me realized that in order to do really well at any given equine sport, you have to specialize, in both your breeding intentions and in your training regime. You can do a lot of different things decently, even well, but if you really want excellence, you have to focus your energy.
It was around this time, in my early teenage years, that I rode my first QH reiner, and it was apparent to me right away that the horse fit his job perfectly. For me, it was akin to the feeling that a race car driver might feel when they first experience a superior vehicle on the track; I instantly knew that I had to have one to continue to experience that rush. Even though I showed my Arab for several more years, and loved him very much, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted more. Eventually, I sold my Arab reiner (to a great home) and bought my first Quarter Horse. I learned quickly, though, that I shouldn't tell people that I came from Arabs, because a lot of the QH people I met looked down on them. And they treated "Arab people" differently. I knew the bloodlines, the maneuvers, the trainers and the training techniques so I was able to "pass" as a Quarter Horse person, and eventually, it became that I was a Quarter Horse person.
That was 20 years ago. I have never regretted going in that direction; I love and admire Quarter Horses, especially reiners, and my life has been an interesting journey because of them. I have met wonderful people, made great friends, and enjoyed watching reining become a world phenomenon. I am proud of every reiner that I have bred, and hope that the NRHA, and the horse industry as a whole, remains viable and relevant. But I have kept up with other breeds too, and I have to speak up and say, why aren't we seeing more participation in reining events by breeds other than Quarter Horses? Arabians and Morgans have come a really long way in breeding for better reiners. They have learned, as I did, that in order to obtain excellence, you must focus your energy, and they have been breeding horses with bigger, rounder rear ends, more angulation in the hind legs and thicker stifles/gaskins, all of which enhance the horse's stop. It is in the stop where you see the most discrepancy between a lighter breed and a Quarter Horse - they simply are heavier behind and can plant their butts easier. A light breed can spin, circle and change leads as well as a Quarter Horse can, given their natural agility, so it is the stopping power that breeders have focused on. And trainers can now access and share training methods so easily, so the playing field is getting more and more even.
Yet, rarely do you see other breeds show at NRHA events. The NRHA is, after all, a performance association, and should want to attract anyone into their competitions. To me, attracting people from other breeds is an easier endeavor than attracting people who have never owned a horse before, which is what many activities seemed aimed toward, like the WRL. And by "attracting," I don't mean trying to get them to abandon their previous breed and just buy Quarter Horses; if they choose to buy a QH, great, but that doesn't need to be the goal.
What I mean is, finding a way to celebrate and reward participation in NRHA events by other breeds. I am not a show manager, nor have I sat on any show committees, so I am not going to try to lay out exactly how that would be accomplished. Counting points earned in NRHA events toward a year end participation award might give people from other breeds an incentive. NRHA should understand, they now cut a pretty big, important profile in the global horse industry. It is one of the biggest, most powerful horse associations in the world; the sport of reining has taken the world by storm, and is one of the only associations that hasn't lost money and numbers in recent years. There is a lot of prestige associated with earning money with the NRHA association, and other breeds see that and want a piece of it. Surely we can find ways of embracing what they can do and how far they have come. The first step, I think, is just being nice, and making people want to be there. Then, give them a way to participate.
I mentioned all this in a chat room not too long ago, and while a couple people said that they knew a person that showed an "other" breed at NRHA events, not all the feedback was positive. One person said, "The Arab people have their own shows, why would they want to come to ours?" and another said, "Oh, those poor little Arabs aren't even allowed to show against the Quarabs!' Wait a minute....Isn't the goal to show reining as something that is fun to do? An event that emphasizes control of the horse through maneuvers? Something that has been described as Western dressage? In dressage, huge-strided Warmbloods dominate the Olympics, but do you think that a local dressage trainer turns away a new customer because they don't ride one, or worse, tells them that their horse isn't good enough, and that they need to buy a Warmblood? No, or at least, I hope not.
And think about it...the dressage people are doing it pretty well. There are far more dressage instructors in this world, far more people who ride dressage than reining - even though there is less money in showing it! The reason is that dressage is seen as something any horse can do - maybe not all are able to do it equally well, but they are rewarded for what they CAN do. Progressing and besting your own score is valued. This is absolutely the driving force in my participation in the Western Rider Development Programme - an organization that celebrates and rewards individuals as they progress in training their horses to do western/reining maneuvers. I think this is part of a grassroots movement to make reining more accessible. Check it out!
Do you have any ideas on how to open up reining to other breeds and associations? I'd love to hear them.
I believe part of being open and accepting, not to mention knowledgeable, of other breeds is about where a person is raised. I was raised in Southwestern Michigan, and when I was growing up, there were many breed associations that thrived there, and a person might see literally any breed being shown at the local fairs and horse shows. Through 4-H and showing at open shows, I had friends who showed Morgans, Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, Hackneys, Drafts, warmbloods, and everything in between, and because sportsmanship was something we were raised on in 4-H, we didn't treat someone differently because they rode a different breed or style. We were all horse lovers, and held a common thread. And if there was a reining class offered, people would give it a shot, whether they rode a Quarter Horse or a mule.
Another truth is that I was raised on the conviction that a good Arabian could do anything - I believe that it was even the Registry's slogan in the 80's...."The Versatile Breed." My horses all rode English, western, sidesaddle, did halter, trail, jumping, and the list went on. At around the age of 12, I fell in love with riding western, and set out to make my purebred gelding into a western pleasure horse, which he happened to love. From there, I met a trainer who introduced me to reining, and I was blown away. It became my obsession, but it was obvious that my hard-working little gelding was not cut out for it. It was difficult for me to take, and stands out now as the moment when the budding trainer inside me realized that in order to do really well at any given equine sport, you have to specialize, in both your breeding intentions and in your training regime. You can do a lot of different things decently, even well, but if you really want excellence, you have to focus your energy.
It was around this time, in my early teenage years, that I rode my first QH reiner, and it was apparent to me right away that the horse fit his job perfectly. For me, it was akin to the feeling that a race car driver might feel when they first experience a superior vehicle on the track; I instantly knew that I had to have one to continue to experience that rush. Even though I showed my Arab for several more years, and loved him very much, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted more. Eventually, I sold my Arab reiner (to a great home) and bought my first Quarter Horse. I learned quickly, though, that I shouldn't tell people that I came from Arabs, because a lot of the QH people I met looked down on them. And they treated "Arab people" differently. I knew the bloodlines, the maneuvers, the trainers and the training techniques so I was able to "pass" as a Quarter Horse person, and eventually, it became that I was a Quarter Horse person.
That was 20 years ago. I have never regretted going in that direction; I love and admire Quarter Horses, especially reiners, and my life has been an interesting journey because of them. I have met wonderful people, made great friends, and enjoyed watching reining become a world phenomenon. I am proud of every reiner that I have bred, and hope that the NRHA, and the horse industry as a whole, remains viable and relevant. But I have kept up with other breeds too, and I have to speak up and say, why aren't we seeing more participation in reining events by breeds other than Quarter Horses? Arabians and Morgans have come a really long way in breeding for better reiners. They have learned, as I did, that in order to obtain excellence, you must focus your energy, and they have been breeding horses with bigger, rounder rear ends, more angulation in the hind legs and thicker stifles/gaskins, all of which enhance the horse's stop. It is in the stop where you see the most discrepancy between a lighter breed and a Quarter Horse - they simply are heavier behind and can plant their butts easier. A light breed can spin, circle and change leads as well as a Quarter Horse can, given their natural agility, so it is the stopping power that breeders have focused on. And trainers can now access and share training methods so easily, so the playing field is getting more and more even.
Yet, rarely do you see other breeds show at NRHA events. The NRHA is, after all, a performance association, and should want to attract anyone into their competitions. To me, attracting people from other breeds is an easier endeavor than attracting people who have never owned a horse before, which is what many activities seemed aimed toward, like the WRL. And by "attracting," I don't mean trying to get them to abandon their previous breed and just buy Quarter Horses; if they choose to buy a QH, great, but that doesn't need to be the goal.
What I mean is, finding a way to celebrate and reward participation in NRHA events by other breeds. I am not a show manager, nor have I sat on any show committees, so I am not going to try to lay out exactly how that would be accomplished. Counting points earned in NRHA events toward a year end participation award might give people from other breeds an incentive. NRHA should understand, they now cut a pretty big, important profile in the global horse industry. It is one of the biggest, most powerful horse associations in the world; the sport of reining has taken the world by storm, and is one of the only associations that hasn't lost money and numbers in recent years. There is a lot of prestige associated with earning money with the NRHA association, and other breeds see that and want a piece of it. Surely we can find ways of embracing what they can do and how far they have come. The first step, I think, is just being nice, and making people want to be there. Then, give them a way to participate.
I mentioned all this in a chat room not too long ago, and while a couple people said that they knew a person that showed an "other" breed at NRHA events, not all the feedback was positive. One person said, "The Arab people have their own shows, why would they want to come to ours?" and another said, "Oh, those poor little Arabs aren't even allowed to show against the Quarabs!' Wait a minute....Isn't the goal to show reining as something that is fun to do? An event that emphasizes control of the horse through maneuvers? Something that has been described as Western dressage? In dressage, huge-strided Warmbloods dominate the Olympics, but do you think that a local dressage trainer turns away a new customer because they don't ride one, or worse, tells them that their horse isn't good enough, and that they need to buy a Warmblood? No, or at least, I hope not.
And think about it...the dressage people are doing it pretty well. There are far more dressage instructors in this world, far more people who ride dressage than reining - even though there is less money in showing it! The reason is that dressage is seen as something any horse can do - maybe not all are able to do it equally well, but they are rewarded for what they CAN do. Progressing and besting your own score is valued. This is absolutely the driving force in my participation in the Western Rider Development Programme - an organization that celebrates and rewards individuals as they progress in training their horses to do western/reining maneuvers. I think this is part of a grassroots movement to make reining more accessible. Check it out!
Do you have any ideas on how to open up reining to other breeds and associations? I'd love to hear them.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Just Give It One More Try
Today I'd like to share a story about myself that might not seem immediately related to horses. But then again, it might...
I grew up on beautiful Paw Paw Lake in Southwestern Michigan, a picturesque place where many of the grand houses are owned as resort homes by wealthy out-of-staters. My family lived there all year long, and as teenagers, in the summer, we hung out with other lake kids, both local and city kids from Chicago and the like. We all had boats of some type and spent many gorgeous summer days cruising around, or hooking up with other boats of friends. We also did plenty of tubing, but water skiing eluded me. We did not own a speed boat*, and somehow, I just never got the chance to learn. A friend of mine from Illinois happened to be a champion ski jumper - he even had a ramp in the water in front of his house - so I spent plenty of time watching other people water ski, but I was honestly a bit nervous to try. This particular friend finally convinced me to try it with him, and so one perfectly beautiful summer day, I found myself at the end of a tow rope with two seemingly huge skis on my feet.
Now, I was an excellent swimmer back then, and I had good balance and strength from riding horses for many years, but still, getting up on those skis proved to be pretty difficult for me. I crashed over and over and over. I shudder to think how much lake water I probably swallowed. Go ahead and laugh - it was awful!! I flipped, flopped and was dragged. I kept track- I wiped out 12 times. At that point, my arms were shaking, and I hurt all over. I was ready to get out, but my friend jumped in the water with me. As we swam, we laughed at my last 'landing' and then he said, "Try one more time. For me. You are so close, I just know it." Aaaahhhh. Ok, fine.
Well, wouldn't you know? I got up, that very next time! It felt amazing - flying over the water, past the other boats, full of sunbathers watching ME ski by! I probably looked like a gum commercial, skiing by with a big grin on my face!! My friends drove the boat in the most gentle and steady manner so as to keep me up, and we managed to go all the way around the lake before my arms gave out. I let go, and gracefully sunk down into the water, completely and utterly satisfied with myself. I don't think I stopped smiling either, for at least a week!
I didn't water ski too much after that, and if I tried it now, it would most likely take me more than 13 tries to get up, but I have never forgotten this lesson. DON'T GIVE UP. You may make it on your very next try! How many times are you willing to fall on your face for your dreams?
*Over the years, we had row boats, paddle boats, pontoon boats, and jet skis, but never a speed boat. When my sister and I would beg our parents for a boat that we could tube or ski behind, my dad would say, "Well, we just need to sell the horses and the trailer, and then we could have a really nice boat." Yeah, that shut us up fast. haha!
I grew up on beautiful Paw Paw Lake in Southwestern Michigan, a picturesque place where many of the grand houses are owned as resort homes by wealthy out-of-staters. My family lived there all year long, and as teenagers, in the summer, we hung out with other lake kids, both local and city kids from Chicago and the like. We all had boats of some type and spent many gorgeous summer days cruising around, or hooking up with other boats of friends. We also did plenty of tubing, but water skiing eluded me. We did not own a speed boat*, and somehow, I just never got the chance to learn. A friend of mine from Illinois happened to be a champion ski jumper - he even had a ramp in the water in front of his house - so I spent plenty of time watching other people water ski, but I was honestly a bit nervous to try. This particular friend finally convinced me to try it with him, and so one perfectly beautiful summer day, I found myself at the end of a tow rope with two seemingly huge skis on my feet.
Now, I was an excellent swimmer back then, and I had good balance and strength from riding horses for many years, but still, getting up on those skis proved to be pretty difficult for me. I crashed over and over and over. I shudder to think how much lake water I probably swallowed. Go ahead and laugh - it was awful!! I flipped, flopped and was dragged. I kept track- I wiped out 12 times. At that point, my arms were shaking, and I hurt all over. I was ready to get out, but my friend jumped in the water with me. As we swam, we laughed at my last 'landing' and then he said, "Try one more time. For me. You are so close, I just know it." Aaaahhhh. Ok, fine.
Well, wouldn't you know? I got up, that very next time! It felt amazing - flying over the water, past the other boats, full of sunbathers watching ME ski by! I probably looked like a gum commercial, skiing by with a big grin on my face!! My friends drove the boat in the most gentle and steady manner so as to keep me up, and we managed to go all the way around the lake before my arms gave out. I let go, and gracefully sunk down into the water, completely and utterly satisfied with myself. I don't think I stopped smiling either, for at least a week!
I didn't water ski too much after that, and if I tried it now, it would most likely take me more than 13 tries to get up, but I have never forgotten this lesson. DON'T GIVE UP. You may make it on your very next try! How many times are you willing to fall on your face for your dreams?
*Over the years, we had row boats, paddle boats, pontoon boats, and jet skis, but never a speed boat. When my sister and I would beg our parents for a boat that we could tube or ski behind, my dad would say, "Well, we just need to sell the horses and the trailer, and then we could have a really nice boat." Yeah, that shut us up fast. haha!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A Good Horse Makes For Short Miles
Good morning and Happy Tuesday!
The past few weeks I have been spending quite a bit of time in the barn and riding. The weather has been great, and my training horses have been doing very well, so I feel very fortunate to be able to spend that time in the saddle. It won't be long, and the cold will deter me, so I am taking advantage of it now.
On the 11th of November, we will reach the 90 day mark in Candy's training. [I have covered Candy before - read here] This is a great time to evaluate how a young one is doing, as it is enough time usually for them to trust you so you can get something done with them. Candy, whom I like to call 'Little Sister' in honor of her two wonderful older brothers, Atley and Broque, is doing wonderfully. When she came to me, she had spent most of her life outside, in a herd, being handled only to do basic vet procedures and occasionally being tied up to be fed. She has been a sweet girl from Day One though, never seeming to be adverse to the training process; rather, she has always been eager to please, even if she wasn't sure what exactly to do.
I am now riding her in a snaffle rather than a sidepull, and have moved from riding her in a round pen to working her in my large, open, riding area. I am happy to say that she appears to handle much like her brothers - she is light on your legs (without spurs), sensitive to the rider's movements but not jerky or hot, follows her nose beautifully and is proving to have a nice, soft mouth. She backs, circles well, and is just starting to rate her speed. She is thoroughly un-spooky, and up until this point, she and I have not had any major blow ups, nor do I expect to. I just LOVE riding her! So often, a trainer must spend a big chunk of time fixing what the previous trainer did to a horse. It is a wonderful thing to get one that is untouched and have the opportunity to create a horse free of bad behaviors and/or fear. Her owner is very happy with how she is doing, and I am pretty sure Candy is happy too; when I walk into the barn to get her out, she nickers to me - - and no, she doesn't get treats! :)
One thing that I have had to adjust to, though, is a different saddle. I have been complaining lately about all the wear and tear that my work tack is taking, and Candy's owner suggested that I try one of her 'extra' saddles - a treeless Sports Saddle. I was wary*, but gave it a try, and have been pleasantly surprised. First off, I love how lightweight it is. And it is REALLY comfortable. This saddle isn't meant for collection work, or for schooling fast turns at speed, but for putting miles on a three yr old? Perfect! And I don't have to feel guilty this winter about getting on my leather saddles with muddy boots!
Have you ever tried a Sports Saddle? How hard is it for you to ride in tack that is different than what you are used to?
*I had tried to ride in one last year, on a different horse, and it felt very awkward to me at the time. The one I had used previously had a fleece seat cover on it, making me feel like I was sitting WAAAAAY up on the horse, and it was 'roll-y' to boot. This time, no seat cover, and I am much happier. This saddle is tricky though - when you sit down in it, everything compresses, meaning your girth is immediately loose, which, of course, lends itself to rolling. I have gotten very good at tightening the girth while mounted, which helps tremendously!
The past few weeks I have been spending quite a bit of time in the barn and riding. The weather has been great, and my training horses have been doing very well, so I feel very fortunate to be able to spend that time in the saddle. It won't be long, and the cold will deter me, so I am taking advantage of it now.
On the 11th of November, we will reach the 90 day mark in Candy's training. [I have covered Candy before - read here] This is a great time to evaluate how a young one is doing, as it is enough time usually for them to trust you so you can get something done with them. Candy, whom I like to call 'Little Sister' in honor of her two wonderful older brothers, Atley and Broque, is doing wonderfully. When she came to me, she had spent most of her life outside, in a herd, being handled only to do basic vet procedures and occasionally being tied up to be fed. She has been a sweet girl from Day One though, never seeming to be adverse to the training process; rather, she has always been eager to please, even if she wasn't sure what exactly to do.
I am now riding her in a snaffle rather than a sidepull, and have moved from riding her in a round pen to working her in my large, open, riding area. I am happy to say that she appears to handle much like her brothers - she is light on your legs (without spurs), sensitive to the rider's movements but not jerky or hot, follows her nose beautifully and is proving to have a nice, soft mouth. She backs, circles well, and is just starting to rate her speed. She is thoroughly un-spooky, and up until this point, she and I have not had any major blow ups, nor do I expect to. I just LOVE riding her! So often, a trainer must spend a big chunk of time fixing what the previous trainer did to a horse. It is a wonderful thing to get one that is untouched and have the opportunity to create a horse free of bad behaviors and/or fear. Her owner is very happy with how she is doing, and I am pretty sure Candy is happy too; when I walk into the barn to get her out, she nickers to me - - and no, she doesn't get treats! :)
One thing that I have had to adjust to, though, is a different saddle. I have been complaining lately about all the wear and tear that my work tack is taking, and Candy's owner suggested that I try one of her 'extra' saddles - a treeless Sports Saddle. I was wary*, but gave it a try, and have been pleasantly surprised. First off, I love how lightweight it is. And it is REALLY comfortable. This saddle isn't meant for collection work, or for schooling fast turns at speed, but for putting miles on a three yr old? Perfect! And I don't have to feel guilty this winter about getting on my leather saddles with muddy boots!
Have you ever tried a Sports Saddle? How hard is it for you to ride in tack that is different than what you are used to?
*I had tried to ride in one last year, on a different horse, and it felt very awkward to me at the time. The one I had used previously had a fleece seat cover on it, making me feel like I was sitting WAAAAAY up on the horse, and it was 'roll-y' to boot. This time, no seat cover, and I am much happier. This saddle is tricky though - when you sit down in it, everything compresses, meaning your girth is immediately loose, which, of course, lends itself to rolling. I have gotten very good at tightening the girth while mounted, which helps tremendously!
Monday, October 31, 2011
My Scariest Ride
Happy Halloween! In the spirit of this spooky day, I was thinking about fear, and times that I have been scared while riding. I haven't had too many bad wrecks, but like anything else, it is the anticipation of something scary that is the worst, especially since it can cause things to spin out of control when you are on a horse. I'd like to share such an experience with you....
Many years ago, when I was fresh out of college, I went to work for an Arabian/National Show Horse trainer as her assistant. This meant that I was tasked with many different things; feeding, grooming, working horses, of course, but also starting young horses under saddle. The trainer, myself, and the other assistant each had a list of horses that we worked, and of course, some of them were nicer to have on your list than others.
Through either fate or bad luck, somehow I got Ladyhawke on my list. She was a tiny NSH mare, and deceptively cute. She had had very little handling before coming to me, so I did the normal things with her; groundwork and lunging, eventually climbing on her while being led. I would have described her as 'a bit squirrely'. She was extremely sensitive to my legs, easily surprised when presented with new things, and not exactly "joined up" with us, but at the time, I was in my early 20s and had ridden some pretty feisty horses, so I was typically cavalier about it. After working with her for about 2 weeks, I started taking her around the arena on my own, and had even started trotting her (no doubt BEFORE I was sure that she knew the word 'whoa'). As they say, hindsight is 20/20....
One day, I was riding Ladyhawke in the arena while the shoer was there working on horses. The arena was connected to the barn by a dirt ramp that goes up to the barn, where, to the immediate right, there are crossties, and where the shoer had his truck parked, in the barn aisle, so as to have access to his forge. The barn was very noisy that day, with everyone moving horses, people cleaning stalls, hollering over the forge and the shoer's hammer. As I rode past that end of the arena, something spooked Ladyhawke, which caused my legs to bang against her, and she was OFF.
There are times when flight animals are so terrified for their lives that they are no longer thinking; their only conscious desire is to get away. That is where Ladyhawke was, and I quickly realized this as I did everything I could do to get the horse to stop. But because the mare was so green and hadn't put any trust in me yet, every movement I made only scared her more, and she flew around that arena like she was on fire. I had her head on her chest, see-sawing, trying to circle her, saying whoa over and over. None of it was did any good - and as the mare came back around to the ramp end of the arena, she saw it as her way out, and made a quick 90 degree turn up the ramp and another immediate 90 degree turn into the barn aisle, all while running blind in terror. I managed to stay with her and she somehow made it past the shoer's truck; there was only enough space to lead a horse through there, and am surprised that I didn't take out his rear view mirror with my knee.
At this point, I was scared. When I had been flying around the arena on her, I was upset, of course, but had tried to focus on solving the problem and getting her stopped. The second she decided to exit stage right, I realized that this could end very badly. As she ran down the barn aisle toward the two barn doors, which were partially closed that day due to a cold wind, I experienced for the first time my life flashing before my eyes. She made it through the doors - I swear, if she had been any bigger, she would have broken both of my legs - and out she went. I remember thinking, as long as I am on her back, she is going to keep running. Get off. Now. The anticipation of what that meant made me hesitate a moment. You know it is going to hurt to hit the ground, but I knew running through a fence would hurt more. And I saw a patch of grass and literally dove for it.
As I got up off the ground, slowly, and everyone came running out of the barn to see what happened, I was SO grateful. While I was very sore for about a week, there were no broken bones, no serious injuries except to my pride. It was terrifying to be so completely out of control of a horse I was on, but I learned some valuable lessons that day, like how to take my time with the young ones, and not to move on to the next step until you are really sure the horse is ready. I also spend a lot more time in a confined space teaching them the basics, and I always wear a helmet when starting young horses now. But most importantly, I think I have learned that the anticipation of an event can be worse than it actually is. Sometimes we don't have good choices in life; we have to go through certain things to learn our lessons, but we can't let fear be a distraction. We have to swallow the fear, take the leap, and have faith that we can handle whatever happens next.
* As for Ladyhawke, she ran to the other end of the farm, but was caught and brought back without any incident or injury. A few days later, the head trainer had a local guy who did rodeo and rode broncs come out to work with her. Unfortunately, she wasn't going to go along easy and dumped him the first time after he had only ridden her about 25 feet. He got back on, and this time he lasted about a minute. He wasn't inclined to get back on after that, and neither was anyone else. The trainer, who happened to own her, then decided to turn Ladyhawke back out to 'grow up a little.' I don't know what happened to her, but I hope that her good looks inspired someone to put in the time with her. No doubt she would have been quite a project for someone, but ultimately worth it. She was definitely athletic! haha!
Many years ago, when I was fresh out of college, I went to work for an Arabian/National Show Horse trainer as her assistant. This meant that I was tasked with many different things; feeding, grooming, working horses, of course, but also starting young horses under saddle. The trainer, myself, and the other assistant each had a list of horses that we worked, and of course, some of them were nicer to have on your list than others.
Through either fate or bad luck, somehow I got Ladyhawke on my list. She was a tiny NSH mare, and deceptively cute. She had had very little handling before coming to me, so I did the normal things with her; groundwork and lunging, eventually climbing on her while being led. I would have described her as 'a bit squirrely'. She was extremely sensitive to my legs, easily surprised when presented with new things, and not exactly "joined up" with us, but at the time, I was in my early 20s and had ridden some pretty feisty horses, so I was typically cavalier about it. After working with her for about 2 weeks, I started taking her around the arena on my own, and had even started trotting her (no doubt BEFORE I was sure that she knew the word 'whoa'). As they say, hindsight is 20/20....
One day, I was riding Ladyhawke in the arena while the shoer was there working on horses. The arena was connected to the barn by a dirt ramp that goes up to the barn, where, to the immediate right, there are crossties, and where the shoer had his truck parked, in the barn aisle, so as to have access to his forge. The barn was very noisy that day, with everyone moving horses, people cleaning stalls, hollering over the forge and the shoer's hammer. As I rode past that end of the arena, something spooked Ladyhawke, which caused my legs to bang against her, and she was OFF.
There are times when flight animals are so terrified for their lives that they are no longer thinking; their only conscious desire is to get away. That is where Ladyhawke was, and I quickly realized this as I did everything I could do to get the horse to stop. But because the mare was so green and hadn't put any trust in me yet, every movement I made only scared her more, and she flew around that arena like she was on fire. I had her head on her chest, see-sawing, trying to circle her, saying whoa over and over. None of it was did any good - and as the mare came back around to the ramp end of the arena, she saw it as her way out, and made a quick 90 degree turn up the ramp and another immediate 90 degree turn into the barn aisle, all while running blind in terror. I managed to stay with her and she somehow made it past the shoer's truck; there was only enough space to lead a horse through there, and am surprised that I didn't take out his rear view mirror with my knee.
At this point, I was scared. When I had been flying around the arena on her, I was upset, of course, but had tried to focus on solving the problem and getting her stopped. The second she decided to exit stage right, I realized that this could end very badly. As she ran down the barn aisle toward the two barn doors, which were partially closed that day due to a cold wind, I experienced for the first time my life flashing before my eyes. She made it through the doors - I swear, if she had been any bigger, she would have broken both of my legs - and out she went. I remember thinking, as long as I am on her back, she is going to keep running. Get off. Now. The anticipation of what that meant made me hesitate a moment. You know it is going to hurt to hit the ground, but I knew running through a fence would hurt more. And I saw a patch of grass and literally dove for it.
As I got up off the ground, slowly, and everyone came running out of the barn to see what happened, I was SO grateful. While I was very sore for about a week, there were no broken bones, no serious injuries except to my pride. It was terrifying to be so completely out of control of a horse I was on, but I learned some valuable lessons that day, like how to take my time with the young ones, and not to move on to the next step until you are really sure the horse is ready. I also spend a lot more time in a confined space teaching them the basics, and I always wear a helmet when starting young horses now. But most importantly, I think I have learned that the anticipation of an event can be worse than it actually is. Sometimes we don't have good choices in life; we have to go through certain things to learn our lessons, but we can't let fear be a distraction. We have to swallow the fear, take the leap, and have faith that we can handle whatever happens next.
* As for Ladyhawke, she ran to the other end of the farm, but was caught and brought back without any incident or injury. A few days later, the head trainer had a local guy who did rodeo and rode broncs come out to work with her. Unfortunately, she wasn't going to go along easy and dumped him the first time after he had only ridden her about 25 feet. He got back on, and this time he lasted about a minute. He wasn't inclined to get back on after that, and neither was anyone else. The trainer, who happened to own her, then decided to turn Ladyhawke back out to 'grow up a little.' I don't know what happened to her, but I hope that her good looks inspired someone to put in the time with her. No doubt she would have been quite a project for someone, but ultimately worth it. She was definitely athletic! haha!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Mind If I Vent A Little?
Mondays are typically NOT my favorite day of the week; I usually feel grumpy and can never get enough coffee. I might be a little bit picky, snippy, or *GASP* bossy on Mondays, at least more so than on other days. ;) So, in reflection of my Monday mood, I want to vent a little about a pet peeve I have: horses that are "hip high." This conformational fault is one that I can't abide, and I can't understand why anyone else would either!
To be clear, we are talking about a horse whose point of the hip is higher (sometimes MUCH higher) than the point of its withers, causing the horse to move downhill on its front end. This trait is often associated with a long back, another fault that bothers me to a high degree. You must always take into consideration a horse's age when evaluating his hip-to-withers height ratio, as horses grow unevenly, and you can't be completely sure of exactly where they are until the age of four or five. But don't be blithely dismissive though - many three yr olds are so hip high that it is a real gamble that their front end will be able to catch up. If they also have a long back, you probably are looking at a permanently hip high horse. There are a lot of them around.
What is the problem with a hip high horse? First, they are AWFUL to ride. They tend to take pounding strides with their front legs, the concussion of which then runs up their leg to you in the saddle, jarring every bone in your body. At the lope, their overly long hind leg coming up under their body causes an additional 'bump' to you in the saddle. They are very difficult to collect, since rounding their back can be anything from mildly uncomfortable to downright impossible. They are often very hard to fit a saddle to; the saddle slides forward, pinching the withers and jabbing the shoulders. Worst of all, these horses are more prone to injury and pain, from the concussion to their joints, to strained tendons and ligaments to back problems. A younger horse might be able to get by with this physical limitation, but by the time a hip high horse is aged, they are going to be hurting somewhere. Being hip high shortens their useful lives.
Where are these horses coming from? There is no doubt that this conformational fault is present in all breeds, but I sure see it A LOT in the Quarter Horse breed. I attribute this to several factors. One, QH cutting horses are bred to get low on a cow - to get down with its elbows in the dirt to look a cow right in the eye. Having a long back and a high hip is an advantage here. The problem with that is that those young cutting horses are only actually used on cattle for a few short years. They may be taken out of training due to injury, or because the cost of training them on cattle outweighs the potential earnings in the show ring. [Keeping a cutter on fresh cattle is expensive, and so cutting training is a big investment in a horse.] So a young, hip high cutter will inevitably have to transition to a new career, since opportunities to work on actual cattle ranches is also a shrinking percentage. That career, if they are lucky enough to find a good home, will most likely be as a pleasure horse.
The high hip trait also comes from the infusion of Thoroughbred blood in the QH breed. Being hip high is an advantage to young racehorses too, and since almost all QHs have some Thoroughbred in them, the trait was passed in this way as well.
Hip high horses might achieve a lot in their young lives in the competitive arena, before injury sets in, and so their name might carry a very high profile in the breeding shed. This is when people begin to ignore the obvious fault, or even count it as a positive. Have you ever heard someone brag about how big their horse's rear end is, how they 'have a huge motor back there,' or go so far as to attribute the horse's speed or prowess to the high hip ratio? While it may be true in the short term, I always add silently in my mind, "Ugh, and I bet he is a pain in the butt to ride...."
Who wants to ride a horse that is so rough you worry that you will seriously damage your spine? Who wants to have to pay for bute and injections and cortisone to get your horse just barely rideable? And will need to be euthanized at an early age because they are so crippled up you can't stand it anymore? We cannot breed horses for careers that they will only have for less than 25% of their lives! We have to balance the need to create an animal that can compete as a young horse with one that can have a vital, active, comfortable life beyond the competitive arena. We need to breed fewer horses that have such a limited shelf life.
And for goodness sake - - we need to breed horses that are comfortable to ride. Think of your horse's poor trainer's back, would ya?!?
To be clear, we are talking about a horse whose point of the hip is higher (sometimes MUCH higher) than the point of its withers, causing the horse to move downhill on its front end. This trait is often associated with a long back, another fault that bothers me to a high degree. You must always take into consideration a horse's age when evaluating his hip-to-withers height ratio, as horses grow unevenly, and you can't be completely sure of exactly where they are until the age of four or five. But don't be blithely dismissive though - many three yr olds are so hip high that it is a real gamble that their front end will be able to catch up. If they also have a long back, you probably are looking at a permanently hip high horse. There are a lot of them around.
What is the problem with a hip high horse? First, they are AWFUL to ride. They tend to take pounding strides with their front legs, the concussion of which then runs up their leg to you in the saddle, jarring every bone in your body. At the lope, their overly long hind leg coming up under their body causes an additional 'bump' to you in the saddle. They are very difficult to collect, since rounding their back can be anything from mildly uncomfortable to downright impossible. They are often very hard to fit a saddle to; the saddle slides forward, pinching the withers and jabbing the shoulders. Worst of all, these horses are more prone to injury and pain, from the concussion to their joints, to strained tendons and ligaments to back problems. A younger horse might be able to get by with this physical limitation, but by the time a hip high horse is aged, they are going to be hurting somewhere. Being hip high shortens their useful lives.
Where are these horses coming from? There is no doubt that this conformational fault is present in all breeds, but I sure see it A LOT in the Quarter Horse breed. I attribute this to several factors. One, QH cutting horses are bred to get low on a cow - to get down with its elbows in the dirt to look a cow right in the eye. Having a long back and a high hip is an advantage here. The problem with that is that those young cutting horses are only actually used on cattle for a few short years. They may be taken out of training due to injury, or because the cost of training them on cattle outweighs the potential earnings in the show ring. [Keeping a cutter on fresh cattle is expensive, and so cutting training is a big investment in a horse.] So a young, hip high cutter will inevitably have to transition to a new career, since opportunities to work on actual cattle ranches is also a shrinking percentage. That career, if they are lucky enough to find a good home, will most likely be as a pleasure horse.
The high hip trait also comes from the infusion of Thoroughbred blood in the QH breed. Being hip high is an advantage to young racehorses too, and since almost all QHs have some Thoroughbred in them, the trait was passed in this way as well.
Hip high horses might achieve a lot in their young lives in the competitive arena, before injury sets in, and so their name might carry a very high profile in the breeding shed. This is when people begin to ignore the obvious fault, or even count it as a positive. Have you ever heard someone brag about how big their horse's rear end is, how they 'have a huge motor back there,' or go so far as to attribute the horse's speed or prowess to the high hip ratio? While it may be true in the short term, I always add silently in my mind, "Ugh, and I bet he is a pain in the butt to ride...."
Who wants to ride a horse that is so rough you worry that you will seriously damage your spine? Who wants to have to pay for bute and injections and cortisone to get your horse just barely rideable? And will need to be euthanized at an early age because they are so crippled up you can't stand it anymore? We cannot breed horses for careers that they will only have for less than 25% of their lives! We have to balance the need to create an animal that can compete as a young horse with one that can have a vital, active, comfortable life beyond the competitive arena. We need to breed fewer horses that have such a limited shelf life.
And for goodness sake - - we need to breed horses that are comfortable to ride. Think of your horse's poor trainer's back, would ya?!?
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Selling Horses, Saving Face
A good friend in the horse industry, with whom I did business with for several years, once told me that for a good deal to be struck, both parties needed to emerge from the deal happy. What he was articulating to me is called "saving face" and is an important part of any negotiation, whether it is between two corporations or two individuals. The definition of 'face' is that which affects our personal self-image, such as dignity, honor, status, or pride, and can fluctuate based on what we perceive as feedback within an interaction with another person. In other words, it can be taken away, such as when we feel we have been insulted or threatened, and it can be given, such as when our worth is acknowledged, we are complimented and treated with respect.
When we practice the art of saving face, we are attempting to save face for ourselves, but also for the party with whom we are negotiating, and in doing so, we are helping to ensure that a deal comes out good for everyone involved. In horses, that could mean the two parties reach a sale price on a horse that both the buyer and seller feel is appropriate. But more importantly, it means that even if you don't reach an agreement on a price or other details, you both can walk away with dignity intact, and hopefully, with friendships and future business possibilities intact too.
The dance of negotiation is a delicate one, and is influenced by many different variables. Dr. Stella Ting-Toomey did the most comprehensive study of face negotiation theory that I could find to (at least partially) explain how these variables work within a negotiation. Her studies have won her accolades, and many of her concepts where introduced to me when I was studying communication in college. She is a trainer, consultant and mediator for major corporations and universities, so her concepts have been proven in the real world.
First, let us consider a person's conflict style. According to Dr. Ting-Toomey, these are:
Dr. Ting- Toomey also details another facet of negotiation that I find interesting: face content domains, which are the levels in which a person will engage in saving face. They are:
In becoming a more competent negotiator, you need to know what drives you; however you'd like to evaluate that is fine - take the face content domains, rank them 1 through 6 in importance, or make a pie chart and decide what percentage out of 100% each represents to you. Or maybe one just simply jumps out as you as your own personal Achilles Heel. Look again at the list of conflict styles, and honestly ask yourself what your modus operandi is; do you try as much as possible to avoid conflict? Do you truly know how to negotiate, or do you attempt to dig in until the other party gives in?
Next, ask yourself, how committed are you to helping the person you are negotiating with to save face? You can see how there would be a WIDE variability on how much a person cares about making the other person feel good about the negotiation; some people simply don't care what the other person feels, as long as their personal needs are met.
So what if you don't bother trying to help your 'opponent' save face? What does it matter? It could matter a great deal in the long run. According to Dr. Chester Karrass, another negotiation expert, "During a negotiation, when our self-image is threatened, hostility emerges. When an individual feels threatened they may make threats of their own, walk away, or become apathetic—but all usually get angry. Experiments show that people, given a chance, retaliate against the person who attacks their ego. Those who have "lost face" are willing to suffer losses to themselves if they can cause the abuser to suffer." In this age of instant global communication, youtube, and all the social networks, the deal between two people over a horse that cost $X can turn into a huge mess that costs $X x10 in legal fees, loss of business and reputation, not to mention the personal losses and stress associated with being drug through the mud. It pays to care about the other person in the deal.
In order to really learn and use the concepts presented here, one must look at themselves objectively. Realize that You are not your conflict style, nor your face-content domain. Rather, you are capable of using the style of your choosing at any time, and can also choose to emphasize and express different needs depending on the situation. That part is within your control. Secondly, put yourself in the other person's shoes. Be aware of their needs and take responsibility for your actions toward those needs. More than anything, recognize that you don't 'win' when the other person walks away defeated.
When we practice the art of saving face, we are attempting to save face for ourselves, but also for the party with whom we are negotiating, and in doing so, we are helping to ensure that a deal comes out good for everyone involved. In horses, that could mean the two parties reach a sale price on a horse that both the buyer and seller feel is appropriate. But more importantly, it means that even if you don't reach an agreement on a price or other details, you both can walk away with dignity intact, and hopefully, with friendships and future business possibilities intact too.
The dance of negotiation is a delicate one, and is influenced by many different variables. Dr. Stella Ting-Toomey did the most comprehensive study of face negotiation theory that I could find to (at least partially) explain how these variables work within a negotiation. Her studies have won her accolades, and many of her concepts where introduced to me when I was studying communication in college. She is a trainer, consultant and mediator for major corporations and universities, so her concepts have been proven in the real world.
First, let us consider a person's conflict style. According to Dr. Ting-Toomey, these are:
- Dominating-emphasizes a person’s own position, one person asserts their dominance over the other, win-lose
- Avoiding-involves eluding the conflict topic, situation and party altogether, lose-lose as neither party wins and the conflict goes unresolved
- Obliging-characterized by high concern for the other’s interest above own, one individual gives in to the demands of the other, this is a lose-win situation and is useful when one party is not fully committed to his/her position
- Compromising-is the give-and-take approach, both parties give something up in order to find a middle ground and reach a solution, this is a lose-lose although a positive solution may result and is useful when both parties are equally committed to their positions
- Integrating-reflects high concern for one’s self and the other, win-win useful when both parties are equally committed to their positions and results in a positive solution for both parties.
Dr. Ting- Toomey also details another facet of negotiation that I find interesting: face content domains, which are the levels in which a person will engage in saving face. They are:
- Autonomy-represents our need for others to acknowledge our independence, self-sufficiency, privacy, boundaries, and non-imposition.
- Inclusion-our need to be recognized as worthy companions, likeable, agreeable, pleasant, friendly, cooperative
- Status-need for others to admire our tangible and intangible assets or resources: appearance, attractiveness, reputation, position, power, and material worth
- Reliability-need for others to realize that we are trustworthy, dependable, reliable, loyal, and consistent in words and actions
- Competence-need for others to recognize our qualities or social abilities such as intelligence, skills, expertise, leadership, networking, conflict mediation, and problem-solving skills
- Moral-need for others to respect our sense of integrity, dignity, honor, propriety, and morality
In becoming a more competent negotiator, you need to know what drives you; however you'd like to evaluate that is fine - take the face content domains, rank them 1 through 6 in importance, or make a pie chart and decide what percentage out of 100% each represents to you. Or maybe one just simply jumps out as you as your own personal Achilles Heel. Look again at the list of conflict styles, and honestly ask yourself what your modus operandi is; do you try as much as possible to avoid conflict? Do you truly know how to negotiate, or do you attempt to dig in until the other party gives in?
Next, ask yourself, how committed are you to helping the person you are negotiating with to save face? You can see how there would be a WIDE variability on how much a person cares about making the other person feel good about the negotiation; some people simply don't care what the other person feels, as long as their personal needs are met.
So what if you don't bother trying to help your 'opponent' save face? What does it matter? It could matter a great deal in the long run. According to Dr. Chester Karrass, another negotiation expert, "During a negotiation, when our self-image is threatened, hostility emerges. When an individual feels threatened they may make threats of their own, walk away, or become apathetic—but all usually get angry. Experiments show that people, given a chance, retaliate against the person who attacks their ego. Those who have "lost face" are willing to suffer losses to themselves if they can cause the abuser to suffer." In this age of instant global communication, youtube, and all the social networks, the deal between two people over a horse that cost $X can turn into a huge mess that costs $X x10 in legal fees, loss of business and reputation, not to mention the personal losses and stress associated with being drug through the mud. It pays to care about the other person in the deal.
In order to really learn and use the concepts presented here, one must look at themselves objectively. Realize that You are not your conflict style, nor your face-content domain. Rather, you are capable of using the style of your choosing at any time, and can also choose to emphasize and express different needs depending on the situation. That part is within your control. Secondly, put yourself in the other person's shoes. Be aware of their needs and take responsibility for your actions toward those needs. More than anything, recognize that you don't 'win' when the other person walks away defeated.
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