Random 5 Friday

1. There were a few comments on my last post that make me think that I didn't do a good job of explaining the whole "you can't push Winston" thing. Horses need to know who is in charge and that includes Winston. If he doesn't know who is in charge, he worries and fusses and pushes. I constantly remind him that I am in charge; from a firm foundation in ground manners, to respect of my space in the pasture, to riding. Winston does not get to choose what we do. At the same time, I believe that you teach a horse by working up to the edge of their strength and understanding. If you go over the edge, you risk having the horse lose confidence, get hurt, or hurt you (in Winston's case by erupting and tossing his rider). He is not a belligerent or mean horse. When Winston is frustrated with an exercise we don't quit. We change what we are doing and it is often something more physically demanding. We might take a couple laps at canter or working trot, for instance, before returning to work. Have you ever gotten so worried about something that you couldn't think straight? That's what happens with Winston and continuing to push just makes matters worse.

2. I haven't heard from J or from her trainer, Ale. I'm not going to call him although I'm sure he is very good. We can't get to his barn with our trailer and I couldn't get there before dark during the week anyway. I've been hoping to ride with a different trainer, down near Sacramento. Brett gave me some lessons with Sandy Savage for Christmas and I've scheduled my first one for the 20th. I'm VERY excited. She was recommended to us before our move from Southern California as a good fit. Her barn is close to work so I can meet Brett there in the late afternoon or evening -- especially when the days get longer.

3. Another gift that Brett gave me is a new garden gate. Right now we have a small metal gate which is perfectly functional. The hardest part about leaving Aspen Meadows was leaving behind my gifts from Brett: my garden, my greenhouse and my fountain. Now I will have a beautiful garden gate here in addition to the raised planter box he built me a few months ago.

4. Brett took Mufasa on a trail ride today with our neighbor, Cindy. They started out just past Coloma (where gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill) and rode down to the American River. The scenery was beautiful and Mufasa walked over logs, exposed tree roots, and into the river.

5. We have been bringing the dogs into the laundry room at night. Since the nights are very cold, we've been able to keep the window shut so Sedona can't knock out the screen and leave. In the summer, we will put them in the barn since it will be too hot in the laundry room. No more night time barking.

Not Sure

...if this sharing of Winston thing is going to work out. Heavy sigh. Pout.

J took a lesson with Katy on Tuesday and that evening I talked to J about how it went. "I'm not sure", she said, "if I am the right person. He's so young. I don't know what to do with him." I sensed that she was frustrated by her lesson (Katy isn't her regular trainer). I encouraged her to spend some time, on her own, with Winston getting to know him. She agreed and also asked if I would be open to her taking lessons on Winston with her regular trainer.

I thought about that request and quickly decided that I agreed it would be beneficial to have another trainer look at Winston. I like Katy a lot and the work she does to help him release his back is very beneficial. But, I also feel like I am treading water. Katy treats Winston like he is a rank beginner and he's not. We have successfully shown at training level 3 and were schooling 1st level with Gayle before the move. I have to confess that when I ride Winston, I use Katy's methods to get him warmed up and then I ride him the way Gayle taught me. J's trainer, Ale ("Alley"), trains FEI level horses whereas Katy strictly trains beginners (riders and horses). I called J Wednesday morning and said I would happy for her to set up a lesson with Ale.

Wednesday afternoon, J came over and rode Winston again. Brett said she seemed a bit nervous around Winston but that they appeared to do fine. J called me last night and said, again, that she didn't think she was the right person to help Winston advance. She had spoken with Ale and he was willing to give me a lesson -- "Not you?" I asked. "No, I want you to get his opinion." I asked if she wanted to come watch and she was noncommittal. We can't get our trailer up the long, steep, rutted narrow dirt road to his barn so Ale would have to come here. She didn't think he would be willing to do that on a regular basis as he is busy at the barn where he works. She doesn't want to ride Winston unless Ale thinks they are a good fit and she wants to ride Winston in lessons with him.

J didn't ride Winston today and she has not made plans to ride him next week. If my lesson happens this weekend (rain in the forecast) with Ale, I will talk to her about his impressions. I understand where J is coming from; she has had a couple bad falls resulting in a broken back and a broken shoulder. She told me that Winston bucked when Katy was riding him in part of her lesson. I told her that you can't argue with Winston and he only bucks when he is frustrated. I told her that when I feel he is having trouble understanding something and starting to lose it, I take a break; do something else that he does well; and come back to the difficult concept in a different way or on another day. Katy is confident and has a good seat. She is comfortable pushing the envelope in a way that I am not. I think J is used to riding older, better educated horses. I get that and I don't want her riding him if she isn't having fun. I understand Winston. I never push him to the point of frustration. I'm patiently persistent. I didn't think he was a complicated horse but maybe he is.

I just know that I am disappointed. I like J so much and was hoping she and Winston would hit it off. ...back to the drawing board.