Where did this big horse come from? 
I took this picture of Piper the other day after we did some training in the round pen.
This picture was taken last July. Has she really grown this much in 6 months??? Funny how that happens. You don't notice it so much on a daily basis, but when you look back at pictures -- wow.
I took this picture of Piper the other day after we did some training in the round pen.This picture was taken last July. Has she really grown this much in 6 months??? Funny how that happens. You don't notice it so much on a daily basis, but when you look back at pictures -- wow.She just turned 2 and 1/2, so she still has more growing to do. I haven't posted much about our training lately, but intend to do more of that (training AND posting). This is the first horse I have ever trained, so it has been a real learning experience for me. I'm in no hurry and I think that has really helped both of us. She loads in the trailer - just throw the lead rope over her neck and she jumps right in, and backs out nicely. When I go in her corral to get her with the lead rope, she comes right to me. She stands tied quietly without pulling back. She will walk nicely next to me on the lead rope MOST of the time. We're working on that, making sure she doesn't get ahead of me. She saddles with no problems. I have been working her in the round pen with and without the saddle on and have actually sat in the saddle and walked her around a little bit. That was HUGE for me. So, all in all, we are progressing quite well.
Those of you who have trained your own young horses, I'm open to any and all tips!
(Oh, and if you know how to keep a horse from rubbing half their darn mane off, let me know that, too... I've tried it all and nothing has worked. As you can see from the first pic, she has done a real number on hers...)
11 comments:
Gosh, hasn't she grown! My Piper has grown up too, and I'm really looking forward to starting her this spring. (she's not nearly as big as your girl though!)
She is so pretty and it sounds like you two have a great bond.
Wow, that's admirable the connection the two of you have obviously developed. Great work!
WOW, Piper has really grown! What a beautiful girl she is!
I don't know how to stop the mane rubbing, perhaps others might know a solution. Gilly's mane gets chewed off, by Pokey, who chews everything!
I have been working with Gilly for going on 6 years...wow...hard to believe I have had him that long. I have worked with a lot of natural horsemanship methods, just what ever seems to work with us and we still have a long way to go. We'll be able to do some more when we get some nice weather again. We have about a foot of snow on now and several more inches are due today. (I want spring! but then I will grip about the mud! LOL)
Gilly and I aren't in a hurry either, we are just kind of strolling down the country road...sigh. Our plans are just trail riding and enjoying the ride.
Sounds like you and Piper are doing fine! She is a sweet girl!
Jane and Gilly
Bridget Piper is getting to be a big girl and it sounds like you are doing great things with her. If you love a long flowing mane you won't like what I did to get my favorite mare to stop rubbing. Yeah you guessed it, I roached it and then as it grew back I took a single edge razor, she hated me pulling it, and kept it about three inches. She never did rub on it after I clippered it down. I nearly took a finger off a time or two with the razor though :)
I'm excited that you'll be posting more about her training. She's so big!
I wonder if she's itchy. How strange that she rubs it off!
I've never had a horse but she sure is beautiful!
She's a big girl now!
Sounds like you two are doing it right, together.
My older sister is a horse trainer (Ali Judy) she has worked with mostly arabians all her life, taking many to the top ten in the nation. She can break a horse and be on it's back in less than an hour. She does every kind of training; western, english,tricks..it's awesome! She has retired now, I have never been into it that much although I have broke a horse..mostly with gentleness from it's baby age! As for the mane..did you try keeping it braided? Good luck..your horse is a real beauty! Come say hi :D
She really has grown! You've also have to give credit to yourself for all the hard work you have put into her. Kudo's proud Mama;)
Sounds like you are doing a great job with her. I have a 3 year old and she did the same darn thing with her mane! Funny thing is all the youngsters at the barn have done the same thing to thier manes too. First I figured out how and why she was doing it - she loves to stick her head through the fence and that is how it got rubbed out (to the skin did I mention?). I tried to eliminate any desire for her to want to do this so she is now fed in the middle only so she can't push her hay out of the paddock. Lastly and the most helpful is I put MTG (Mane tail groom) on her mane. Most tack stores carry it. It is super greasy, makes a mess and smells like BBQ, but strengthens the hair so it doesn't break off. Her mane has completely grown in now and looks beautiful! I still use it about once a week to keep her mane conditioned and I can't believe how great it works. I've used it on horses that rub thier tails out too and had fantastic results.
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