Dolly is a gorgeous dun with a big white blanket on the bum and white sock on her hind leg. She stands just shy of 17 hands with a 29 inch neck, and when we taped her weight there was a gap at 1,500 pounds where the tape ends couldn't meet. Dolly does whatever Dolly wants to do!
I read Alexander Kurlan's book, and did some ground work with the clicker on her. I struggled with some of it - as she is so big. Still, we had a good understanding of the clicker - and Dolly loves it.
Today I started her training like usual, lunging her in her bridle with side reins - working both sides. She did great. I got a teen up on her while we lunged, and again - she did very well. The problems didn't start until I unsnapped the side reins and let young Candace take her out without the lunge line. Dolly figured that her training was over. She tossed her head and pulled the reins out of Candace's hands. She didn't crow hop or anything, but she sure was ignorant. Clearly we couldn't outmuscle her - so we needed to outsmart her!
It had been a good six weeks since I had used the clicker. I had never used it on her under saddle. It only took one click for those ears to go straight up and a smile to come to her face! We clicked and treated for her head down - as she offered it right away - it was her first clicker lesson, and she remembered! She is horibly stiff on her right side, and I got Candace to treat her from the saddle on that stiff side. Amazingly she had no trouble twisting around for her treat! In two minutes we had the problem solved. We had a soft mouth and we had steering! We schooled corners on a square I had laid out with poles. She was awesome - even turning on her stiff side!
After schooling her turns and circles, we decided to go all out and tackle a bit of leg yeild. Just try leg yeilding a moose like her! With the clicker it was possible, and we got some decent yeilds towards the arena wall going both ways. It was great to be on the ground to catch her cross-over right as she does it, and she got the right idea - even though it is tough for her to do. I know with practise and time it will get easier. I traded spots with Candace and rode her myself - it was the best ride I'd ever had on her - even when Candace left to water the horses and I was alone with her. She was willing and compliant all the way!
Who needs a 20 pound bit, draw reins, 8" spurs and a bad attitude, when all you need is a clicker and a pocketful of treats! It turned my 15 hundred pound moose into a circus pony (well almost!)
Thanks Peggy!
Dolly isn't a school horse yet - she's a horse we rescued last Easter. I had petted her just before the sale - and went home right after. Later that night I asked about the big appy mare, and who had bought her. Turns out the local meat dealer bought her. My friend and I went halves on Dolly and I was sent out to get her off the truck- I got her just before she was to be loaded.
Now that's not the way to buy anything! Still, she is turning out to be a real sweet deal. She's quick to learn and eager to please. She is sooo smooth in her gaits! Our plan is to have her serve as a vaulting horse as well as provide rides for the therepudic riding program. I can get on her without a mounting block, but I use it just so she gets used to having to stand there. I work her on the lunge so she gets used to it and learns to collect herself on the line, and carry herself. She is so very close to starting to earn her keep! It's a sad fact, but I can afford to rescue the odd dog or cat, but a horse needs to earn their way. Dolly is already serving as a "therapist" in the barn, as I have found many people gravitate to her pen when they are feeling down and just hang out there petting her. I'm thinking that Dolly will be able to carry her own substantial weight, as well as that of other rescues that we pick up from time to time! Here's hoping!
Kim
Leg weaves with a 17 hand horse
Hey Christina....now come on....you could do the leg weaves if you stepped from roof top to roof top!
So Kim....VERY, VERY COOL. I'm so glad to hear you were able to help Dolly understand the scope of the clicker and positive reinforcement. You're going to be so please with how "school horses" respond to getting paid for their work.
Keep us posted.
Peggy
Leg weaving with Dolly!
I trained my retriever to leg weave using a clicker and it was one of our favourite trickes. I think the only leg weaving that Dolly and I will be doing will involve me picking up her huge feet to clean them out!
thanks for reading my post Christina, it was my first one!
great story
It is amazing the turn arounds we see in the attitude of cross over animals. A delight every time.
(But I bet you are not going to mimick Peggasus' leg weave trick ;o) - see the videos in her blog )
Christina