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Post by Michelle Clarke on Jan 31, 2012 20:23:18 GMT -5
Our first official session in the roundpen yesterday. She has gotten used to the daily routines, as far as in and out of pastures/pens and her stall being cleaned with us in it. She has been calm enough in close proximity that I feel it is time to begin actual work sessions. Raz trusts me to some extent and knows I won't hurt her.
What you'll see is pretty boring the first day. Just letting her move around me and encouraging her to move her hindend away and face up, even follow me a few steps. I don't really push her at all - just walk at an angle to encourage her to either move or turn and face me. I finish the session after she has done well on both sides, then at the end, switches eyes in front by coming across and changing directions right in front of me. That's a big deal.
The best part was not filmed...after I was done, I opened the pen and stepped to the far side so she could come out, go past me and from behind I would direct her where I needed her to go - just as we do every day moving about the barn and pastures. She came to the gate and stopped, looking at me. I walked a few steps, she came out but did not leave. Just stood staring at me. So, I walked through two pens, down the barn aisle and out into her pasture - she followed me the whole way - not stopping at the alfalfa pile or the stalls where Zuri was waiting for her. I was super impressed!
I've got today filmed and will get it uploaded and posted too.
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Post by sbutter on Jan 31, 2012 22:55:01 GMT -5
Wow! That sounds great. I love watching training videos like this. I can't wait for the next one. It really sounds like she is trying to figure you out. I bet she was pleased in being able to follow you out all the way to her pasture. "Look what the human did!"
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Feb 1, 2012 8:05:01 GMT -5
Second session...in the first session, I carried my lunge whip with me - you could see it was no concern to Raz at all. This session I am going to use it to touch her with the lash. First I re-establish moving the hindquarter and seeking me out. I offer the back of my hand, like another horses nose, slowly lifting and reaching with it being careful to keep it lower than her nose. When she reaches back to me or even takes some deep breaths to smell me, I take it back; partly as a release, partly as a tease.
Next, I begin to offer her the end of the whip the same way. Raz starts to increase the distance between us, even though she is still trying. She is now a little concerned by the new rules. Quickly she realizes it is not going to hurt her and she becomes distracted and unfocused. This is right around the 6:30 mark. She looks to the outside of the pen at the old bunkhouse then casually walks forward and sniffs poop. I now know it is time to move on so I find a place to start moving the lash slowly back and forth.
I want her to get used to the whip but more importantly, I want her to get used to my arm movement. Notice I always keep my body facing away behind her so she always has the option to leave. I also start "air petting" her. Moving the whip away from her but in a petting motion like I was touching her.
She gets a little confidence in what we are doing at 12:40ish, so now when she leaves, I lightly throw the lash up over her back. I try to keep it up over her neck area but because I am not putting lots of energy into it, sometimes it touches her hind end or her back legs - which she does not like. I don't like when she back up, so I will up what I am doing to keep her forward. I want to teach her right away, sucking back is not a valid answer when we work.
Raz is getting frustrated with me having to come closer to her in order to touch her with the lash, so I get a whip with a longer lash so I can keep more distance and she can be more comfortable. Now I can throw it onto her neck and we have a "connection" as we work.
About 24 minutes in, she really starts to relax more, so I go back to working on moving her hindquarter away while I have the whip on her. At 29:12ish, Raz for the first time in this session, steps her front foot over toward me. That's when I want to call it a day. She gets a little over reactive when I go to leave, so I go back to facing up until she relaxes some.
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Post by citykid on Feb 1, 2012 23:24:45 GMT -5
Absolutely facinating to watch that animal think ....Is it hard for you to quit for the day - not "push it" ? Have you found determined from the others you have tamed it is best to work each day, or skip after 3 days, or another kind of pattern? The camera angle is great ...now when the foals come ... !!!!!!!
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Feb 1, 2012 23:57:12 GMT -5
When they progress so fast, I don't mind taking a day off here or there...I gave her today off. I don't find it hard to quit only because it is so intense that I am drained and looking for a stopping point! I can tell when they've had enough too, it is stressful on them in the beginning for sure. She is so much fun - I thought I'd have a hard time with an aged mare. I am sure if she was an alpha, it may be a different story but Raz is happy to have direction. She is really a sweet mare.
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Post by truemaloy on Feb 11, 2012 16:25:02 GMT -5
Hi Michelle, thank you very much for posting these videos! Are you planning to upload more? I really enjoyed these and I am looking forward to more!
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Feb 11, 2012 19:48:54 GMT -5
Yes, I will post more. The horses I have been working in the small pen in my barn (because I can't get them into the main roundpen) have been off because it has been wet - now a very cold northern blew in. So, hoping to get back to work Monday. However, I may be able to film work in the stall tomorrow if I can get the camera set up. Raz has been very accommodating with me, moving nicely in and out of the stalls, pens and small pasture I have for her with no issue. Yesterday for the first time, she did not want to come in and then did not want to go into her stall - very matter of fact, no nervousness - just not doing it. She played games with me for a good ten minutes. I figured it was time our relationship went to the next level. I have a four foot flexible whip with a soft ball on the end - I call it the "bonky ball" - and I use it for various things, such as teaching Spanish Walk, flexing/lateral movements on the ground and guinea fowl training  . I brought it into the stall and began touching her with it along her spine, softly bouncing it. This method is called Endo Tapping and it is a vibrational massage technique used for endorphine release. I learned this from my mentor, JP Giacomini. You can read about it here: equus-academy.com/ea_public/eapub_content/AboutEndoTapping.htmlRaz was stiff as a board but slowly started licking her lips - getting into the rhythm and relaxing some. On her left side, she was consistently dropping her head. On the right, not so much but little dips of her neck but a lot of licking her lips. Today the gal that helps me did not come in, so I had all the morning and evening chores to do myself - Raz did not get a follow up. Will try to get that taped tomorrow. Thanks for asking! |
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Post by citykid on Feb 11, 2012 20:34:42 GMT -5
JP coming to visit 3/2 - 3/4 Bristol Wisc. You should come up here, (flyup) stay with us and surprise visit him. High today 19 degrees ..... come on you know you miss this !!!!!!!
Do not forget the movie camera on the foaling pens - just sayin.
So happy to know more training videos coming.
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Post by fantasykiger on Feb 19, 2012 14:49:15 GMT -5
I liked that endo-tapping article.  |
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. I brought it into the stall and began touching her with it along her spine, softly bouncing it. This method is called Endo Tapping and it is a vibrational massage technique used for endorphine release. I learned this from my mentor, JP Giacomini. You can read about it here: 
