I've been doing freelance and just for fun writing for almost ten years now. I enjoy it almost as much as I do creating art. In fact writing is art. Instead of a paint brush and canvas I have letters and a blank word program...It's still blank.
Now, blank.
Damn. So I have this paper due. I am outlining braiding for shows and how to maintain long or short manes. It's got to be no longer than 1500 words. I have about 700 so far and so many ideas it's just one of those topics I could write a book on.
What can I say. I LOVE to braid and groom. I could braid manes and tails until the cows came home (which they do just around supper time, I love a good burger). I was just thinking, perhaps I should write a book on grooming and braiding. I love to teach, people love to learn. Braiding is art, writing is art, teaching is art why not have a book on art!? Braiding is a very old form of art. it's so intricate and requires patience, practice and skill. How many of you could use a practical hands on braiding and grooming guide? I can braid every style under the sun on a horse I can.
Heres something I whipped up in a minute on Indigo. Shes a little wind blown don't you think? It's a dutch braid or underhand french braid.
Every winter she grows this stick uppy layer of whiter hair over her mane. It kind of sticks up all over the place until about May of the next year when it starts to lie flat.
So anyway my canvas is still blank. I need words stat. Maybe i'll go braid tomorrow and get some inspiration. I hate winter. It's too cold but it's coming weather we like it or not. Maybe i'll migrate to Florida lol!
I write this because although I tell the story frequently, I have never put it down in text.
This is about my little old rescue, Naigen. Shes old, a bit arthritic, going blind and too short for me to ride much. She offers something to the world no other horse in the barn can. She has the words to speak to adults and children the kindness and forgiveness many of us will never understand. It was three years ago in July. A lady I know named Robyn took the $250 and saved more than a life. The farrier explained there was a cute little horse just wasting away on this run down farm that someone should pick up. He didn't say another word about her. Later that week she was inspected.
The man and woman that owned her had moved to tokyo and left her and her pasture mate at the farm. They were renting the house and the condition that the horses were fed. They didn't have hay or water but thank goodness they had regular farrier care or we would have never known about the events to come.
Naigens pasture mate had died a few years before. Probably starvation which was the road she was on too. The little paddock looked like a swamp. No buckets for water, not even a scrap of hay. We called out and heard a throaty nicker from inside the barn. Upon inspection was a filthy grey old horse standing on top of a mountain of manure. Her mane was rubbed out where her body hit the rafters. Bones poked out at every angle painfully but yet there was a little spark in her eyes that was the tiny glimmer of hope we had come to give her what she deserved.
We were told very little about her. Mostly ignorance like she was old and couldn't gain weight and that up until two years before she was ridden daily and she was registered in Canada in 1988 with the arab cross registry with the name Naigen Blaze. She was 18. $250 was her price. She was too small for us and we didn't even know if she was going to make it but at least we could give her a humane end.
She willingly lead down the slope in her stall and stepped into the trailer, looked back once at the hell she had lived in for who knows how many years. Everything was to be up from there.
Once we arrived home all the horses turned out nickered in anticipation when the tailer rolled into the driveway. They stood at the fences waiting to see the new arrival. Naigen stepped of the trailer like a real lady. With all four feet on the ground she shook like someone had shot ice down her spine. I don't know if she was nervous or the fact that she hadn't seen another horse in god knows how long but she was home. Putting weight on her was no easy feat. She would only eat a quarter of a flake of hay at at time, a side effect of vitamin E defficiency common in anorexic people. Grain was often left for the first month but surely and slowly she got her eating habits back
We didn't turn her out the first day. She spent the day eating as much hay as she could in a clean quiet stall, looking out the door to the pastures of horse friends she was to meet.
The next morning I was turning out the horses. She was to be turned out with two other ponies. I lead her out of the stall. She was a ball of excitement. As soon as her front feet hit the grass she tried to drag me to the paddock with all the strength left in her bony body. She was home, she had food and friends were on her mind. With minimal squealing and introductory sniffing she setted right in.
By January of the next year her back bone was only visible. We put a saddle on her and I started longing her to see what she knew. She was perfectly behaved for tacking up and longing. We had a bit of trouble with the bit: she hated it! Once it was in her mouth and she was strong enough to hold me (feb) I jumped on her bareback to see what she knew.
First she jumped away from me and the mounting block. I managed to scurry onto her fuzzy back. She walked and listened to leg very well and even knew how to neck rein. Two times around the arena and my friends came with their big newfoundland dog "kodiak". Kody, who adores horses gave a big hello WROOOF! that eccoed on the steel siding. Naigen picked up a canter right away in response to the terrifying bear dog and stopped four strides short, planting her feet and quakeing with terror. That was the one and only time I have ever seen that mare spook. Kody promptly followed her around the barn for the rest of his visit there, ensuring she was not scared of him next time.
She moved on to teach a few kids to ride in the next time span and is bitless due to a breathing problem and her happyness. Only two people have fallen off her and both times were not her fault. I recall her star pupil she taught having a tack malfunction. The cheap cinch's buckle shifted and suddenly swung out from off the saddle. She planted her feet the second it happened as I ran to the rescue. You couldn't have asked for a better teacher.
Today she teaches a two and a half year old and a three and a half year old to ride. Shes patient, spook proof and never minds anyone bouncing around on her back or kicking her in the butt when we do around the world.
So she speaks the language of forgiveness. She forgives the last owners for leaving her to starve. She forgives the person in her care for his ignorance. She forgives us for not finding her sooner and forgives the mistakes young kids make wile handling her.
Best of all she thanks me each and every day by meeting me with a happy welcome nicker and a chorus of neighs when it's hay time. This is one horse that will never have to find another home. Even when she is unable to be ridden and goes blind but still trusts me she will be loved by everyone around her and even when she is gone I will have the memories of returning the most gentle, well trained and trusting horses back to health.
Have you ever been to a livestock auction and had a horrible experience?If you have -we invite you to join equine advocates all over America in Project Shake-Up.
Here is what it is about:
You send out your story (complete with graphic photos/if you have them)of your worst experience of equine neglect/abuse while at a livestock auction. You can also participate if you have been involved in helping a friend who had such an experience firsthand even if you did not. There are many advocates that have turned to their friends for assistance in trying to get law enforcement/A/C to these auctions to enforce the law. Because of such involvement -you will have a story to tell,too.
We are trying to get national media attention to expose the greedy,non-compassionate,and neglectful auction dealers. We want to really put the heat on them to stop all this constant equine neglect/abuse. We have been getting so many stories this past year on auction dealers selling horses that were dying,injured,starving,etc. The conditions for these animals are absolutely abominable! Stories like empty water troughs, no food provided, knee deep in manure, horses sitting out in direct 90 degree heat for weeks at a time, handlers whipping the horses, horses crying out in severe pain w/broken limbs left unattended. Dealers selling abandoned horses w/out paperwork. We wonder how many of those horses may have been stolen. No medical attention is ever administered. There are vets at some auctions there for Coggins that just turn their back on all the abuse and look the other way. Dealers hauling horses across state lines w/out coggins/health papers. Animal control officers won't even bother to come out and help,etc. The list goes on and on...
Well,now is a chance for all of us as advocates of the horse to strike back! On Friday November 7th (lucky#7) - advocates everywhere will be emailing their most horrible livestock auction experience to all 3 media news networks. We are hoping to totally bombard the national media-convincing them that there is a real crisis going on in this country with what auction dealers are allowing at their venues all across America. If enough advocates will take the time to do this -we think that even if they don't do an immediate story that it might at least pique their curiosity. That may produce a story at a later time. We invite all equine advocates everywhere to post this on your blogs,websites,forums,etc. Send this message out to anyone who might want to participate.We need everyone to have a chance at success.
All you have to do to participate is on Friday,November 7th - email in a word document your story/photos to :
Naigen, Spring 2007. She was still ribby, but enjoying eating the dandelions in the back riding ring.
Because the frost has set in it is an extremely dangerous time for horses prone to founder.
I hope this can benefit someone. I got 100% on it. My instructor was very impressed and it is something that has stuck with me ever since.
Grass founder
Fact sheet by Sydney Kotow
Twelve little ponies graze contentedly in a hilly green pasture during a perfect spring day. It may seem like the dream image to a little girl or horse lover but where the green grass grows, disaster can strike.
Founder, right next to euthanasia is a word horse owners hope will never be associated with their equine health record. We go to every precautionary measure from muzzles to grass less paddocks but do we really know the villain behind this menacing disease?
Founder, the aftermath of laminitis. It can start innocently enough; a horse eats the wrong grain, reacts to medicine, is worked on hard ground or in our case, eats grass.
Laminitis and founder are often used interchangeably but they are two very different diseases closely related to one another.
Laminitis occurs when blood flow is interrupted (short term, constant or infrequent) to the sensitive and insensitive laminae (the tissues that connect the coffin bone to the hoof wall) of the horse’s hoof, causing them to separate. When the horse develops laminitis the laminae experiences decreased blood flow, nutrient supply, oxygen, edema, and death of the tissues in the laminae. Causes for the edema in the laminae are blood clotting, swelling around the blood vessels, and restriction of the veins, that in turn cause the blood to be deterred away from the capillaries in the laminae. (Beadle, 1999) There are two main types of laminitis, acute and chronic.
Founder and laminitis are often confused, founder cannot happen without the horse developing laminitis first and the laminar tissues weakening. When the horse founders the coffin bone tears away from the lamina and rotates. From there the bone can tilt downward until it penetrates the sole of the horses hoof. Generally, severity of rotation in the coffin bone is measured in degrees. 10 beingmoderate and 40 being severe. Beyond 40 degrees the bottom of the coffin bone will become vertical and penetrate the hoof sole. Over time a vertical coffin bone can deteriorate and the toe portion of the bone can become flat. When the coffin bone begins to rotate, pressure is placed on the toe of the hoof creating the “elf shoe” deformed look in the hoof if veterinarian and farrier care is not called upon.When the coffin bone detaches itself from the laminae it never completely regains it’s former attachment and allows the horse to become prone to founder again. (Avisar, 1996)
Founder almost always occurs in the front feet and it’s easy to see why. A horse’s body was built front heavy with a long thick neck and big head. At adulthood the horse typically carries 60% of his body weight on his front limbs, putting pressure on sore feet with founder.
Founder can be thrown upon a horse in many ways. As caretakers we should know what the signs are and when to call the vet. Any case of laminitis or founder is an extreme emergency. Without a hoof you have no horse so take preventative measures and call the vet early. The horse will usually come in from the pasture or out of the stall lame.Digital pulses on each foot will feel as if they are pounding, heat can be felt, and the horse will be extremely sensitive to hoof testers in the toe area. The horse might shift his weight from one leg to another and walk with very stiff limbs. In extreme cases the horse will not stand square and will attempt to put more pressure on the hind legs by leaning in an attempt to find relief. Some horses lie down on their sides as this is the only way they can relieve the constant pressure being placed upon their sore feet. A horse that has developed chronic laminitis will have rings parallel to the coronary band and bleeding or an enlarged white line area on the sole of the hoof. If the case has been left long enough the coffin bone may drop and penetrate the sole. In cases of neglect, death can be quick to follow.
Grass founder is a very puzzling disease, there are still holes in research today. It is essentially the same as grain founder but with different ingredients. Easy keepers are thought to be more at risk for grass founder as well as overweight, under worked horses. Do not exclude very fit well fed athletes, any horse is at risk.Numbers of grass founder cases increase in the spring and fall; right when growing starts and stops with temperatures fluctuating.
There was a time when grass founder was thought to be caused by very rich green grass. Now we learn fall grass can give horses even more of a risk as it starts to brown and attempts to store nutrients to keep itself alive before the winter frost sets in. Research has shown a starch like carbohydrate to be the delinquent. This carbohydrate is known as fructan.
Fructan is stored by grasses and hays for times of need like anovercast or sunny day with cool temperatures. The carbohydrate is used by plants when photosynthesis of their cells slow or cease. Cloudy days or temperature drops make growing conditions for grasses less ideal so they store fructan for these times. When the sun comes out from behind the clouds or day breaks fructan production commences. Since the weather in spring and fall can change from warm to cool rapidly within days or hours the levels of this carbohydrate are highest to help the plant survive. (Christie, 2007)
Cutting hay during times of environmental stress such as anovercast day orwhen photosynthesis is not optimal will leave your hay with very high levels of fructan. When the hay is cured the levels stay consistent.
It is almost impossible to test your grazed grasses for levels of fructan because these levels go up and down during the day and vary day by day depending on the weather and where the sun is in the sky.
Fructan is digested in the hindgut, fermenting rapidly and causing an excessive amount of lactic acid buildup. The lactic acid kills the bacteria in the hindgut, which releases endotoxins into the blood.Endotoxins are essentially the dead bacteria. When fructan ferments the bacteria multiply so rapidly that they die off quickly because of the increased acid content in the hindgut. (Thomas, 2003)
Endotoxins effect the cardiovascular system, which in return shuts off the run of oxygen and restriction to the feet. This results in laminitis, the weakening of the hoof structure, and ultimately the rotation of the coffin bone or founder.
There really is no proven way that will help all horses recover from grass founder. However, first removing the foundered horse from grass and any grain or concentrates altogether, is a good method until he is sound. Cool season grasses such as timothy, fescue, and clovers are at a higher risk of larger fructan levels. Although fructan levels are lower in warm season grasses it does not mean the horse cannot founder off them or that they have no fructan in them. Keeping previously foundered horses off grass during spring and fall when temperatures fluctuate is a must as well as never turning a horse out that foundered in the same paddock that gave him the condition in the first place; he will likely founder again. If that paddock is the only one accessible to you, grazing muzzles are an inexpensive way of preventing grass founder.
Some farriers can apply corrective shoeing and others are experienced in the areas of the natural trim, which has recently been shown to work in some cases even better than shoes.
Take the horse or pony off all grain and call the vet immediately if you suspect any signs of laminitis or founder. X-rays of the foot can be taken to determine if the coffin bone has rotated and what treatment should be applied. Some pain medications can be applied to temporarily relieve pain but they only cover up symptoms, not treat them.
It is recommended to feed hay with 10% of fructan or less. This is one more reason it is very important to get a hay analysis. Alfalfa is a good alternative by itself or mixed with grassy hay to make up the protein and calories the grain once supplied to the horse.
Some supplements on the market today help the horse keep the weight on without the risk of too much carbohydrates, starches, or sugars added to the diet. They could be added if the horse has a hard time keeping on weight without a concentrate or grain. Too many calories can be counterproductive in the healing process. Once the horse has healed it is recommended to put him on a low starch, high fat diet to help prevent a repeat episode.
Founder Facts
For prevention avoid letting horses graze in the late afternoon/evening, when temperatures drop below 40 or the morning to follow a temperature drop. Overcast days also pose a threat.
Brown grass in the fall poses a very high risk, as fructan has saved up high levels in an attempt to live out as long as it can until the winter frost. Wait until grass has browned all the way down to the roots before allowing horses to be turned out on it.
Putting grazing muzzles on horses that are high risk or have foundered before are very good and safe precautionary measures. Also turning out in a paddock without any grass is a good preventative choice.
When hay is cured fructan levels stay the same.It is possible your horse may have foundered off the hay instead of grass. Local feed stores usually can send samples of your hay to test for levels of fructan.
Every case of founder is different. Every case will require a different treatment. Some work, others don’t. Ask your vet and equine nutritionist what nutrient requirements your foundered horse will need and any special things you should be adding to his diet.
Research, research, research! If your horse founders, chances are you are in for a long and heartbreaking battle. Do as much research on methods of treating founder as you can. Talk to other people who have had foundered horses, contact specialist farriers and veterinarians. The more you know, the more you will be able to help your horse.Any little bit can help but when it comes to your horse’s feet, take all precautions.
Gradually introducing your horse to grass can make the risk of grass founder smaller. Start with 10 minutes and add 5 minutes each day until the horse can be let out to graze for the desired amount of time. Remember, once horses are let free in a grass filled paddock it can be hard to coax him to come back inside. Hand grazing initially is a good insurance plan.
References
Ralph E. Beadle, DVM, PhD 1999 Professor of Veterinary Medicine
This is something cute I found in my research. I did not know if it was appropriate to place it in my assignment because I did not write it but it is very cute and helpful.
The Fructan Jingle by Katy Watts
When you wake at crack of dawn
Graze your pony on your lawn
But sugars rise in afternoon,
For foundered ponies, this spells doom
When frosts cause fructans to increase
Your ponies grazing now must cease.
Hold off a day, or maybe more,
Or else your pony may get sore.
Despite the many disciplines and wacko ways people have discovered they can make a name, living or horse work there are actually only two types of riders.
Those who can ride and those who know how to ride.
Those who can ride. They are dictated to quite strictly and learn from another accomplished rider. They never take the horse out by themselves without first learning how to do the task on hand. If they never jumped they take lessons on jumping. If they never chased a cow they go in pursuit of a western saddle and a cowboy. Basically before they do it they must learn how. You see a lot of them at shows. Even though I've never taken many lessons I realized this year I don't feel so bad about it. The judge does not know who has what trainer and who's horse is better bred because it's about how you ride and your horse moves. I didn't go to as many shows this year as I usually do but I sure as hell got a lot of ribbons. It kind of makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Knowing how to ride is something totally different. Maybe you started out with lessons, but either way this is something that is rarely ever taught to someone, if ever. You are born with it. A sense inside of your very being. Even if you don't know it right from birth it is inside of you waiting to get a knock on the door of horsemanship. Some people get that knock when they get on their first horse to others it may come late in life.
A lot of us who know how to ride never even had riding lessons. We got on the back of a horse and they taught us what we needed to know. In a bad situation we can answer our own questions, solve the problem and get on with our day. If we never jumped before we try it. If we like it we take lessons. I want to see more people like this in the world.
Those who know how to ride rarely know what to do in a scary, new or difficult situation. They look for help and ask other people. Even though they may not know what to do now, someday they may get that proverbial knock on horsemanships door and open their eyes to a whole new way of riding.
I remember a few years ago we at our annual trail ride and one person forgot to pick up their poop with bags as dictated in the beginning of the ride.
Me: I told them to pick it up or they can't come on the ride next year! Friend: it's horse poop just tell the people to kick it. It's just like grass Me: we are not going to be able to have this ride again if horses are shitting and it's not being picked up. Friend: it practically disintegrates when you kick it. Try it.
Angry person that has horse poop on the road four blocks from their house: If you are going to use the road pick up your horses poop!!! I don't want to hit it when I back out of my driveway.
Friend and Me: JUST KICK IT OFF THE ROAD!!
We hate eachother, non horse people hate us we all hate us.
We are always squabbling about how mary sue always wins at the horse show and how so and so's horses were not braided right and shmoes horse was dirty and how bob knocked down the soooo simple cross rail.
Us horse people go into a tack store and we are bound to find someone to talk to. As soon as we turn our backs someone else walks in and suddenly we are the light of the conversation. Who knows what we said but sure enough it was something to do with our horses or our order of special feed with 20 salt licks and a fancy shmancy curry comb. I think it's because we are so jigh maintenance or because we love our horses to death.
All I know is I gotta go to the feed store to get wormer. I wonder if they threw out all those wormers that were 6 months out of date from last year?
I am talking about horse training and sending a horse you trained to it's owner and then having to go back and fix yet another issue you thought you could solve the first time.
Every issue a horse has can rear it's ugly head a second time no matter how much training the horse has had. I'm talking about the explosive nutcases, the rearers, bolters, buckers, chargers, ear pinners, scardey cats, aggressive, intimidating shit heads that try and turn you into a human lawn dart given the chance. Just because it was trained doesn't mean the problems are gone forever. If the person who usually handles or rides the horse can't apply techniques to get the horse under control it doesn't matter how long or how much of a big shot your trainer is. Clip clop still knows he can and will overtake you if you can't put a stop to it there and then you'll have repeats at some time in his life. He will try harder and harder until you run back to big shot trainer crying dangerous horse.
A lady line drives my pony. Yes the pony I was talking about a couple posts ago that I luuurrrv well I was going to f-ing kill him today. It started off innocently enough. I had my first vacation in two years and you would have sworn I was gone for a month instead of a week. I hadn't had time to drive pony until today because of other catching up I had to do. Of course it was also the only day I did not have my helmet with me. He was doing really good. I had to correct him a couple times for trying to eat grass (strike 1) because I did not want my reins to get stepped on and I did not have a check. He seemed to remember the last lesson on the consequences of trotting when I did not say so. He walked like a little gentleman two laps around the whole field, then it was time for a trot. I found a patch where it was not like a wash board and trotted him up and down it about 6 times. I seen Barb pulling into the farm so I thought I would go back and offer her a ride. Just about the time we were about to turn home we went over this bump we had hit a hundred times before. He took off like a bat let out of hell bolting. It took every muscle in my body to keep myself from flying out of the cart. The 30 seconds it took for us to get across the field seemed to take an hour. All I kept on thinking about was my friends accident in the spring and being launched like superman onto my head only he had a helmet on; I didn't. When I finally got him under control I noticed he had his tail under the breeching so I reached forward to lift it up and he did another dash only this one was shorter. Oh boy I wanted to fucking kill him and the woman that line drives him. She let him eat the hay in the field, I don't. She put him away when he fucked around: I made him work 10X harder for it.
Long story short he was lathered in sweat from running back and forth over that bump by the time I put him away. He also tolerated me randomly touching his tail.
I think I am going to give up on training the horses and start training the handlers.
You know I love that woman some days but mostly she drives me insane. Ah too bad I have a heart.
So I started my two newest courses in the equine science diploma and it got me thinking about a lot of things as one of my courses is journalism.
I took my first vacation in two years. I went up north with my friends and had an amazing time. Check out this real Canadian stop sign we encountered, eh?
Abuse- Is a sin. What people do to horses through intentional actions or plain ignorance is unforgivable. Neglecting to float their teeth, trim their feet or other aspects of equine health care is abuse. Worst of all is the physical abuse that comes from fear. Humans with physical violence towards horses consciously or subconsciously beat their horses out of fear. Fear creates anger, anger creates rage and inhumane treatment. Striking or scaring a horse with an object or ones body in such a way that it creates a fear in the horse is never an aspect of good horse husbandry.
I've seen quite the few horses ruined by trying to use force. Who wins, the 150 pound human or the 1000 pound, gnashing teeth, flailing hooves, swinging neck horse? I think even the cave men figured that one out.
Some people believe wisdom comes with age. I believe wisdom can come to a person at any age. It has to do with the experiences you have and what you do in the time you are allowed to experience them in.
On another note we say farewell two two valiant souls. A good horseman an a hockey equipment guru, Brian Heaton. He died suddenly at the age of 58 of a heart attack wile at a horse show in London. I had the privilege of riding a few of his horses and they were truely a pleasure to ride. May he rest in peace.
Gazella, a Trakehner mare who always made sure every horse within view knew she was the queen of the barn was euthanised last Tuesday. The vet confirmed she had a couple strokes so it was time to let this 28(?) year young girl go to the big pasture in the sky. No gelding could look at her over the fence without her screaming and stomping in protest. She only ever got along with and could ever be turned out with Shorti who is screaming for her best friend of 15 years to come back. Shorti is turned out with Naigen now but still cries for Giz. I don't think the loss has sunk in.
A friend of mine just found out he was diagnosed with cancer. It is all over his body and he has not been given very long to live. He is a very happy man who is full of life and love. I hope he knows he is surrounded by people who love him even though he never had it written on paper.
I don't think I ever mentioned my pony. Yes my pony. Hes 11 something hands hackneyXwelsh cross. His name is Keebler.
Keebler is the most push button "yes ma'am!" equine I have ever met. Theres something about him that I just understand. I know why he spooks, why he gets upset, why he shies, why he plays and why he just plain enjoys peoples company. You never EVER have to teach something to that pony twice and when you do ask him of something he already knows he does it every time without question. Quite a trusting little fellow. Hes just one of those horses, err ponies that I never have to question why he does something, I just know and I can explain it every time. He understands me, trusts me like you wouldn't believe and goes about his merry way without the fuss or complaint most horses, especially young horses often throw at you. I think it had something to do with me being the one to train him. He didn't even know how to lead when I got him as a three year old project. Now he drives, rides, lets kids drag him all over the place and barely ever spooks at anything. I just understand him better than any horse I have ever worked with, owned or came across. Theres something that clicks there that I cannot explain or any professional horse person can define. It's almost telekinetic. Him and I make a fabulous team. It's just so relaxing to drive and work around him knowing hes so young, inexperienced but does everything I ask of him like a 20 year old school horse.
I think I finally figured it out! Well not it, her more like it. Indigo to be exact. She can be such a brat. I got the most AMAZING ride today. I have one of those "I love my horse more than anything" feelings. She can be quite the bitch sometimes even going as far as throwing a little crow hop and even a little buck. I think I finally got her where that just poof, in one instant goes away. It's simple. I have no clue why I haven't see it before, maybe because I ride english too much. I ask for collection and contact and she shakes her head and tries to stick out her nose. I ask for an upward transition and she balks, sometimes trying acrobatics.
Today I decided to sit tall in the saddle and hold my reins with one hand on the buckle, resting near her withers. I carried a crop, just in case she tried to stick her head down and eat those oh so tempting grasses and weeds. She was a complete ANGEL. OMG! I asked for a trot, she carried on forward not even a flick of her ear. When I asked for a canter she effortlessly hopped up and carried on down strait and true. She wanted to stretch so I gave her the length of the reins. She cantered with her head between her knees (shes never been trained to do that or ever done it before because I have usually had some kind of contact on the reins) Her back cracked and she was limber and really enjoying herself with her ears forward cantering and then galloping down the trail.
How many of you could/would dare to gallop your horse on a loose rein? It's all in the training.
