I'll be calling the farrier, but I believe it's just time for another injection for Lily. It's been 10 months, and I imagine the effects have been wearing off for some time.
Then we went to trailer loading class for Cibolo. Now he'll get in pretty well, but won't quite get in place for the divider. I haven't been able to work consistently, so I am determined to wait it out for a while. We've really only had 3 sessions and they've been spaced out over 3 weeks. Certainly not ideal training schedule.
I'm going to stay on this track for a few more sessions to see if I can get this where it needs to be. If we stay stuck, then I'll have to consider what I need to change...
Then, once Cibolo was in, we decided to load Lily, just for fun. She's been loading great.
But then SHE started to have issues. She'd get in and then hop right out. So we spent 10 minutes until she would at least stand in place - we opted not to go for closing the door because we were supposed to be done... Plus I knew she wasn't feeling well, which doesn't seem like a good time to work on training.
It's situations like this that make me wish I lived with my horses. I believe (falsely, maybe) that if they were just HERE I could work on something like this 2 x a day for 4 days running. Then we could really get it done. Instead I'm trying to squeeze things in between a brutal work schedule, the demands of motherhood and wifedom, and various domestic duties for which I am ill suited.
Sigh.
On the good end of things I was able to push Cibolo through a stubborn moment during the ride involving a refusal and scary flapping stuff, and my confidence never wavered. A few months ago I would have gotten off and walked us through it. I didn't even consider that this time. I regained his attention and we rode through it.
Could I be done with the fear that I rode with for so long?
Time will continue to tell.
18 comments:
Look how brave you are getting! We're proud.
Just catching up on your last 3 posts. Take your time, and increase your expectations just a little each time, and you will achieve lasting results. I love that you are more in tune with Cibolo and enjoy riding him out on the trails. I hope you have many wonderful rides this summer.
Great job so far!
I hate to tell you that if you had your horses in your backyard it wouldn't be any better. I end up feeling guilty that the grass needs mowing or the gardens need weeding and. . . you get the idea.
I think I actually get more done with my horse that is boarded because I just have to decided to go out there and then I can concentrate just on the horse.
God, isn't riding through the fear sucessfully the best thing on this earth? It happens alot with me and Jackson now. Sorry about Lil's leg. Jackson blew out three holes in his hind (WTF?) without signs or symptoms of abcessess. My farrier blew them off. THREE HOLES. He told me that people pay thougsands for horses with hooves like Jackson's. I was strangely silent at that one. Then I started reading about them. Well, that was just like nursing school. Scary. It COULD BE: Laminitis. Navicular changes. Mud, and wet environment. Bad hay. Bad diet. Trimmning style. Lord in friggin heaven. I called Smart Pak and got a supplement. Change farriers? Anyhow, mostly wanted to say "hello", It has been a rough road, I feel it may not get easier soon, I fear. Changes coming down the pike... I didn't want you to think I'd been ignoring you, I haven't been on before yesterday; in over 3 weeks. Depression has hit hard. What helps? Riding. That is it. Wanna come and ride anytime? Sounds like you are getting loading down, and we had a really nice three hour ride at Bandera last week..... It was the only time I was able to stop freaking about losing Dakota.
It helped to talk to Lorri who had put her OLD, much loved Arabian, Pizazz, down two days before my onw baby. Strangely, we talked, communed, but didn't lose it. A great thing. Good luck with all that is going on in your neck of the woods..
Slainte'
~Mindy
Sounds like everything is going well
First, I admire your patience and determination regarding trailer loading. Second, the fact that you are able to work, be a mother, manage a home and take care of your horses makes you an amazing woman. Third, congratulations on working through your stubborn moment with Cibolo....fear has left the building!
My Mom's been through more horses than kids and the one thing she says is a deal-breaker when buying horses is finding one that loads well. Now I see how hard it is to get a horse to that point.
I'm sorry that Lily is feeling bad. I hope your farrier can help.
P.S. So sorry to hear Lily is feeling poorly. Horse hugs from afar.
I see you handling scary flapping stuff with grace and aplomb, just like you do everything else, including, um, Cibolo bits cleaning.
Miss ya, chica!
Hopefully, Lily will get better.
Like Beth says, having them in your backyard doesn't really give you more time although it gives you freedom in various ways. I go out and feed them in my nightgown most mornings and sometimes, late at night, I'll go ride.
Next time you're in town, you can help me with my trailering issues. Sounds like you are becoming quite the expert.
Also, I'm really glad to read that you are connecting with Cibolo and able to ride through your fears and his mishaps. It is so exciting when you become a team.
Hopefully, Lily will get better.
Like Beth says, having them in your backyard doesn't really give you more time although it gives you freedom in various ways. I go out and feed them in my nightgown most mornings and sometimes, late at night, I'll go ride.
Next time you're in town, you can help me with my trailering issues. Sounds like you are becoming quite the expert.
Also, I'm really glad to read that you are connecting with Cibolo and able to ride through your fears and his mishaps. It is so exciting when you become a team.
I know about those busy schedules keeping you from your horses, and it seems that horses always need so much work. Trailering is hit and miss for a few years. Sometimes they'll go in, sometimes not. I've noticed they are always more willing to go in one the way home too.
I think it's just awesome how much you care about and work with your horses, especially considering that you don't live with them. Sounds to me like you're doing just awesome!
When Dixie got mad and bucked last week, I spent the next 30 minutes in a total daze, wondering why I wasn't terrified. Regaining confidence is a very strange and very cool experience, isn't it? :D
If you lived with the horses, you'd be too busy working, being a mom, washing dishes, washing clothes, etc., PLUS fixing fences, bucking hay, scrubbing water troughs, and picking up poop to work on trailer loading. C'est la vie. For a real human in the real world, you're getting a ton of great trailer practice in, and I'm totally jealous!
im sorry about Lily!!! My friends horse has to get injections to!! :( I follow your blog now!! :)
For me having my horse at home means I can work on things every day, even if just for 15 minutes. Sometimes that's all I have. I can walk up to the barn in between washing loads of laundry and after I put dinner in the oven, and get some horse-time in.
I think if I boarded my horse, those moments would be a lot less and there would probably be more distractions (for me and my horse).
Poor Lily. I hope it's nothing serious and she's feeling better soon.
I still feel fear when scary stuff happens while I'm riding, but it's a lot less intense than the prior fear I used to have. The kind that fills you with terror and makes you want to freeze in place or run screaming. The fear I have now is much easier to move past and regain my confidence.
Sounds like you're doing really great with Cibolo and able to work through anything that comes your way. Good job!
~Lisa
Hope Lily is feeling better soon. I'm sure once you have the time the trailer loading lessons will go much more smoothly. And don't for a minute think that having them home would be easier and you'd have more time to play with them. It never happens that way, we barely have time to ride on the weekends. There's lots of work just in upkeep and mucking etc... all week long.
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