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Post by kristi on Oct 5, 2009 10:06:08 GMT -5
Tiffany you look wonderful and Wickee is beautiful! Oh what fun you must have had riding her. :-) How old is Wickee? Wasn't it just yesterday that she was a little thing??? I agree with Pepper about the helmet. I use to be one of those wetern riders who thought helmets were for nerds. After I bumped my head once (and it only took ONE time) I rarely ride without it! I do parades and demos without it for the "show" but if I'm trail riding, training, despooking practice I ALMOST always have on my helmet. Helmet next time, they are cool!! :-) Thanks for sharing your pictures, your friend did a good job but then again she had good subjects!!
Kristi
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Post by fantasykiger on Oct 13, 2009 11:49:14 GMT -5
Wickee is now home  She is 4 yrs old, pretty much the age we have gotten all our Kiger under saddle for the first time. I have ridden her twice here at home until the weather turned bad today  lovely freezing rain. I do not have an indoor arena so we are a bit more at the mercy of the weather, but Matt said a few days off will not hurt she does not go backwards and retains her lessons well. Not that she does not on occassion decide she does not want to do something any more. For example after standign still to mount for awhile, she decided to try moving away from me, it took about 4 sessions of work before I approached to mount her and she did not even think to move away. She gets a bit more spooky around here with it being an outdoor arena birds, dogs and shoot the wind makes for great distractions and practice on keeping her focused on me and me keeping my balance and seat.  Yes, I wear my helmet. |
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Post by fantasykiger on Oct 25, 2009 12:25:51 GMT -5
:)When ever the weather is not to miserable, I have worked with Wickee in one shape or form. We just start by going over her ground work and if all goes well i get in the saddle and work her around the arena. For now just alot of walk and trot with some obsticles. We are trying to work on following your nose. We have got to get our steering down...LOL. Along the rail is no problem but my arena is much bigger then the indoor one she trained in at Matt's and inside mine she is all over the place. My daughter has ridden her horse in the arena with me to help give Wickee a purpose, as a horse to ride along side and keep up with or catch up to as well as work on riding away from and behaving while in close proximity.
Outside the arena I am ponying her all over the place everywhere that we will be riding in the future so she will have experienced everything without me on her back before I ride her thru'. Yesterday we went to the pond. Her first reaction to the pond what is that? But in less then 3 min. she walked up took a sniff got her feet wet and trucked right thru up to her belly right along side Mystie, who LOVES the pond. I brought them up to shallow water had her trotting thru' the water, then back to deeper water and just stand and relax, then shallow. I was real pleased she never once pawed the water. Neither does my mare Mystie just a good walk on thru and not afraid of the splash or cold water on her belly.
We also came across a guy and his son target shooting. I made sure he could hear us coming but just as I crested a hill he fired (it was like a pellet rifle) thankfully not in our direction. Regardless Wickee just jumped in place and I just kept her moving forward. I was proud of her reaction. We no sooner got out of sight and the real shooting started but she would just pop her head up and I made a point to keep her at a walk until she looked completly relaxed. Then we went back to work with transitions of walk, trot and canter. Part of the reason to pony is to build up her stanima. The biggest problem I have had with young horses is they get out on the trail ride they get tired and that is when they are done and get difficult undersaddle. Several times while ponying her she will just shut down, slam on the breaks, and fight the rope for about 5 seconds. Mystie may not be taller but she is bigger and she does not stop...LOL.
Anyway that has been my adventures with Wickee as of late and I thought I share.
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Post by angelsdream on Oct 25, 2009 20:09:01 GMT -5
Sounds like you and Wickee are getting along great - I love to watch them discover new stuff. Some of the silliest stuff they are terrified of is quiet funny! Good thing you have a good role model to show her the ropes. Cant' wait to see pics of you and Wickee again! And lets not forget your little funny boy that likes to give new hair do's |
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Post by fantasykiger on Nov 6, 2009 17:05:34 GMT -5
our lessons in the arena have been uneventful until now. Yesterday was the word Frsutration was on both our minds I am sure.
frustration: a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs
I know everyone has bad days horses and humans alike, but what do you do when you have a grumpy horse on your hands ? for example this was Wickee yesterday... as soon as you take your direct eye off them they pin their ears or when you ask for something they have done several times before they comply but with pinned ears. All just trying to get thru' ground work. Asking to back or forehand turn for example. Just the simple task of leading ..I eventually made her lead at whip length away if she was going to have an attitude I did not want her close to me. When she responded nicely and relaxed I allowed her to move in closer stop and rubbed her. But as soon as I would ask for forward movement those ears would go flat back and I was chasing her off again, backing her up and yielding her hindquarters.
Anyway as darkness approached and I had to rush to feed as I had a dinner engagement. I put her away frustrated. I am begining to think it has got to me. Matt and my daughter say I am too nice, I can not let her get away with that attitude but honestly I do get after her.
Anyway I hope today is better we shall see, there is bound to be bad and good days along with everything else in between.
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Post by angelsdream on Nov 6, 2009 21:26:44 GMT -5
My friend is going thru the same thing with her mare. When she asks her to do something, most of the time in the saddle, she pins her ears back and has a real pissy attitude. It's not her saddle or any health issues - she's had the chiropractor out, saddle fit, etc. She takes her to the trainer's every week - the only thing she has figured out is that she has spoiled her for the first 4 years of her life and let her get away with alot - and now she's asking her to work and pushing her more and she is not happy. I think she will get out of it eventually - but it's going to take time. It's a habit now - so hang in there Tiffany.
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Post by fantasykiger on Nov 6, 2009 22:30:26 GMT -5
Thanks... I figured Wickee thought the training was fun at first and she is done, but we have lots of work ahead of us I just need to remember to be consistant. |
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Post by mystickiger on Nov 6, 2009 23:09:14 GMT -5
Tiffany, Wickee is simply a smart mare. Please don't take this wrong, but it doesn't help that she is spoiled on top of that. Not a "bad" thing but just a fact. You said that Matt says you're too nice, you can not let her get away with that attitude. He is right, forget that she is your horse. Pissy or not, do not allow her to be "Your Wickee". She must respect you but you must respect her. Respect is mutual. Do not settle for the smallest half try when it comes to a mare like this. Fantasy "tries" you so expect that Wickee will too.
All the above aside, please be sure that you aren't boring her with the repetion. You are probably right that she thought it was fun at first. Quite simply, you are now a bore = none or little respect. A smart mare and really most Kigers, gelding, stallion or mare, that I know of need consistancy - no gray, just black and white, to respect what they are being asked. Wickee has training undersaddle from a professional. Regardless of "your" previous relationship, you more than her, have to put that aside. Get on her, stop boring her with ground games that she will always win at unless you really change. Pinned ears are not necesarily a sign of "pissiness". They are more than often a sign of insult and boredom. Get on her back. Go forward and straight. I'll bet that Wickee will be happy. ears forward and not at all pissy.
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Post by fantasykiger on Nov 7, 2009 15:14:41 GMT -5
Thank You ..mystickiger I take no insult with your comment, it is just good cronstuctive criticism. I can take it Your are probably right in that she is spoiled to a certian degree, hard not to when you love horses. Hec' I am rusty at this, but I have the skills and I can do it, just getting my confidence back after years of being unsure. Just getting these words of support from my fellow riders, well it's a breath of fresh air and very much appreciated you have no idea. It sure beats being told to pack it in and sell your horse. |
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Post by angelsdream on Nov 11, 2009 15:33:00 GMT -5
Yes I get discouraged as well. Good days and bad days - but its a learning experience and usually after the flustered days it finally clicks and I get it. So keep going - it will pay off. Confidence is hard to get back but it just takes doing - the more you do, the more confidence you will get.
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She is 4 yrs old, pretty much the age we have gotten all our Kiger under saddle for the first time. I have ridden her twice here at home until the weather turned bad today 
lovely freezing rain. I do not have an indoor arena so we are a bit more at the mercy of the weather, but Matt said a few days off will not hurt she does not go backwards and retains her lessons well. Not that she does not on occassion decide she does not want to do something any more. For example after standign still to mount for awhile, she decided to try moving away from me, it took about 4 sessions of work before I approached to mount her and she did not even think to move away. She gets a bit more spooky around here with it being an outdoor arena birds, dogs and shoot the wind makes for great distractions and practice on keeping her focused on me and me keeping my balance and seat. 
Yes, I wear my helmet.
