Saturday, January 26, 2013
Gran Teddy Auto: #187 - Float training with Norm Glenn
Gran Teddy Auto: #187 - Float training with Norm Glenn: Last weekend saw the start of my float training with Gran and a local horse trainer named Norm Glenn. I found Norm to be a great trainer wit...
#187 - Float training with Norm Glenn
Last weekend saw the start of my float training with Gran and a local horse trainer named Norm Glenn. I found Norm to be a great trainer with good sensible methods. He is also a good teacher which is a perfect combination. I say this as I have see a lot of accomplished horse people who just don't know how to explain themselves well and this just causes more stress and wasted time, resulting in everyone walking away unhappy.
Gran had more issues than I thought so after last weekend's non-stop half day training session I was required to reinforce the training everyday. I found this was successful but was still taking up to an hour each day just to close the tail gate, that I needed to lead her in to the float if I wanted it to be easier, I didn't feel totally safe doing it and it was very stressful. So I called Norm back and today we spent another two hours working through the problems and discovering ways that would best suit Gran to accept the float and load well. This is one of the reasons I like Norm. He doesn't have one or two methods and sticks to them, he nuts it out and works with the horse and the owner to find something that works. When I rang him to come back I was half expecting to hear, "Just persevere and it will eventually work" and if I had I would not have been happy, but thankfully he didn't, he said, "Ok, let's try something else."
This morning's session was extremely successful with Gran self loading and me not even entering the float, and she learned to stand still until asked to come out. This allowed me to close the tail gate very easily and we even got to the stage where, after being loaded, I would ask her to unload and she would stay in the float! I had to guide her step-by-step out of the float on my terms. This is exactly what I wanted.
Looking back over these two sessions I think that last weekend was more like watching Gran just get tired over the hours as I didn't see the complete acceptance that this was something she just has to do. There was still a definite, "stuff you!" vibe about her. Today it was like something clicked in her mind and you could not only see it but feel a completely different and calmer "accepting" vibe come off of her. I am now confident that we have achieved an attitude shift in Gran, but the only way I will know for sure will be over the next few days, even weeks.
The difference in method this time around was that she had no choices because it was felt that there wasn't a fear of the float from her or other major issues, that we had work through all that the last time around, and it was more she was trying to call the shots but planting her feet; in a way shutting down. It seemed to be like she was think she didn't want to do it so she wasn't going to do it. Today, the moment she refused the pressure was on within a half a second until she complied. Every move of the head was instantly redirected, every back away was met with all aids pointing in one direction - into the float - and the only time the pressure was released was, obviously, the moment she complied, or when her head was down and she was checking something out while licking her lips and chewing. No dressage whip was used to tap her anywhere as it proved to make the situation worse. This was all halter and lead rope work. All redirecting. I was taught to be forceful and quicker without being violent or punishing (either of which I would never tolerate). Actually, speed in my response was probably the key.
I also discovered what a flexible horse she is, she's almost a contortionist! She can turn the whole front of her massive frame into a horseshoe shape in an attempt to look outside the back of the float and she can stay there as long as she likes. To look at her you would think there would be no way she could manage such a feat but, I kid you not, her front feet are almost level with her back feet and she is in a perfect horseshoe shape inside a regular double float! It would almost be comical if it wasn't for her trying to complete the turn and leave the float head first! I actually think that she would follow through with this idea if it weren't for me preventing her! She also does this in the float when traveling so now she is on a very short lead.
Where to from here? Continue to practice. If tomorrow goes well I will have my lesson at Kim's and take Gran in the float, but that will only happen if I'm totally comfortable with it.
Below is some footage of the first training session. Unfortunately Steve was not available to film the end of that day and was unable to capture anything today, and half the time I am learning to load Gran. It was filmed on a very windy day and I have sped the footage up just because it can be kind of boring. But what you will see is what she was like at the start - very little rearing or kicking or bucking, though it's there, but more refusal to go in and/or stay in the float. Also her trying, in her plodder way, to push people around. The main problem was that she could do the 'half in half out' or 'in for 30 seconds' things for literally hours on end. HOURS! She would just wear people out. Also this was before we discovered that she responded better without a dressage whip in hand.
A hell of a lot of progress was made and I will hopefully film an "After" portion in the next few days to demonstrate the difference.
Gran had more issues than I thought so after last weekend's non-stop half day training session I was required to reinforce the training everyday. I found this was successful but was still taking up to an hour each day just to close the tail gate, that I needed to lead her in to the float if I wanted it to be easier, I didn't feel totally safe doing it and it was very stressful. So I called Norm back and today we spent another two hours working through the problems and discovering ways that would best suit Gran to accept the float and load well. This is one of the reasons I like Norm. He doesn't have one or two methods and sticks to them, he nuts it out and works with the horse and the owner to find something that works. When I rang him to come back I was half expecting to hear, "Just persevere and it will eventually work" and if I had I would not have been happy, but thankfully he didn't, he said, "Ok, let's try something else."
This morning's session was extremely successful with Gran self loading and me not even entering the float, and she learned to stand still until asked to come out. This allowed me to close the tail gate very easily and we even got to the stage where, after being loaded, I would ask her to unload and she would stay in the float! I had to guide her step-by-step out of the float on my terms. This is exactly what I wanted.
Looking back over these two sessions I think that last weekend was more like watching Gran just get tired over the hours as I didn't see the complete acceptance that this was something she just has to do. There was still a definite, "stuff you!" vibe about her. Today it was like something clicked in her mind and you could not only see it but feel a completely different and calmer "accepting" vibe come off of her. I am now confident that we have achieved an attitude shift in Gran, but the only way I will know for sure will be over the next few days, even weeks.
The difference in method this time around was that she had no choices because it was felt that there wasn't a fear of the float from her or other major issues, that we had work through all that the last time around, and it was more she was trying to call the shots but planting her feet; in a way shutting down. It seemed to be like she was think she didn't want to do it so she wasn't going to do it. Today, the moment she refused the pressure was on within a half a second until she complied. Every move of the head was instantly redirected, every back away was met with all aids pointing in one direction - into the float - and the only time the pressure was released was, obviously, the moment she complied, or when her head was down and she was checking something out while licking her lips and chewing. No dressage whip was used to tap her anywhere as it proved to make the situation worse. This was all halter and lead rope work. All redirecting. I was taught to be forceful and quicker without being violent or punishing (either of which I would never tolerate). Actually, speed in my response was probably the key.
I also discovered what a flexible horse she is, she's almost a contortionist! She can turn the whole front of her massive frame into a horseshoe shape in an attempt to look outside the back of the float and she can stay there as long as she likes. To look at her you would think there would be no way she could manage such a feat but, I kid you not, her front feet are almost level with her back feet and she is in a perfect horseshoe shape inside a regular double float! It would almost be comical if it wasn't for her trying to complete the turn and leave the float head first! I actually think that she would follow through with this idea if it weren't for me preventing her! She also does this in the float when traveling so now she is on a very short lead.
Where to from here? Continue to practice. If tomorrow goes well I will have my lesson at Kim's and take Gran in the float, but that will only happen if I'm totally comfortable with it.
Below is some footage of the first training session. Unfortunately Steve was not available to film the end of that day and was unable to capture anything today, and half the time I am learning to load Gran. It was filmed on a very windy day and I have sped the footage up just because it can be kind of boring. But what you will see is what she was like at the start - very little rearing or kicking or bucking, though it's there, but more refusal to go in and/or stay in the float. Also her trying, in her plodder way, to push people around. The main problem was that she could do the 'half in half out' or 'in for 30 seconds' things for literally hours on end. HOURS! She would just wear people out. Also this was before we discovered that she responded better without a dressage whip in hand.
A hell of a lot of progress was made and I will hopefully film an "After" portion in the next few days to demonstrate the difference.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Gran Teddy Auto Log: #186 - Gran has a big day tomorrow
Gran Teddy Auto Log: #186 - Gran has a big day tomorrow: I heard back from the previous owner who said she was too busy to come and show me how she floated Gran and suggested I get a professional o...
#186 - Gran has a big day tomorrow
I heard back from the previous owner who said she was too busy to come and show me how she floated Gran and suggested I get a professional out to teach me how to handle her. I assured her that it wasn't my handling skills that were in question! The fact that I've already had professional horse handles/breeder/ Equestrian Australia qualified coaches out and they couldn't get her in the float is evidence enough to me that it isn't about handling skills. I know how to handle a horse and I'm sure the professionals do too, they have been doing it their whole lives! Gran simply has floating issues. Period. Telling me she scrambled once is not disclosure either!
Anyway, Gran has a big day tomorrow as I am paying good money to have Norm Glenn out to reeducate her to go in the float.
http://www.normglenn.com/
I have had a lot of good feedback about his methods and have been told he is the go-to-guy in the region for solving horse problems. So fingers crossed this works because if it doesn't I won't be happy in will be heading down avenues I would prefer not to.
The photo is of Norm doing his thing with another horse. Tomorrow I intend to have photos and video of Gran doing the same thing - self loading!
I am feeling positive!
Anyway, Gran has a big day tomorrow as I am paying good money to have Norm Glenn out to reeducate her to go in the float.
http://www.normglenn.com/
I have had a lot of good feedback about his methods and have been told he is the go-to-guy in the region for solving horse problems. So fingers crossed this works because if it doesn't I won't be happy in will be heading down avenues I would prefer not to.
The photo is of Norm doing his thing with another horse. Tomorrow I intend to have photos and video of Gran doing the same thing - self loading!
I am feeling positive!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Gran Teddy Auto Log: #185 - Can't I trust anyone?
Gran Teddy Auto Log: #185 - Can't I trust anyone?: I think I'm a sucker! Why oh why do I trust people? Gran is not floating and I was told she had one scrambling issue in her life and otherwi...
#185 - Can't I trust anyone?
I think I'm a sucker! Why oh why do I trust people? Gran is not floating and I was told she had one scrambling issue in her life and otherwise she floated well. And that was just a scramble, she never had floating issues or gone down in the float, just once she scrambled "a little bit" I was told. I believed it and even called the people who raised her to see how they thought she floated, just to be sure. They said no problem and that she had been to many comps in a double front loader float, just like mine, without problem. I took this as a good sign. Who won't?
At the previous owners property I asked if we could load her and the owner said she didn't have time to hook the car up and I believe her; having kids and all. Gran was delivered here and I believed it was for the previous owner to be sure she was coming to the right place - a good, caring home on a well maintained property. She was down in the float when she got here. I was told that they overshot my driveway so did a u-turn a bit up the road at the Bushland Resort and they must of taken the corner too quickly and she went down then. I believed them. I was more concerned about what to do when a horse is down in a float as I'd never been in that situation before and also the owner was so upset I just wanted things to be ok. She was crying and her husband was trying to calm her and I really felt bad for her. I would have been upset too. Gran got up in the float and unloaded herself and just stood there without a care in the world. I thought it was just a bad situation that could have happened to anyone. Maybe I should never have excepted her in that situation but I did. I trusted that it would be ok.
Gran has been here just over a month and a half and I've tried to load her many times and so has my instructor. My whole holidays of riding was cancelled because I couldn't get her on the float to take her anywhere. She will walk in but wont stay there. Gran has had two solid hour long sessions to load with a EA qualified coach and she still wont stay in the float. She's had a number of sessions with me but still wont stay there. The previous owner said she loads fine you just need to tap her on the legs but the getting in the float isn't the problem its the staying on and closing up. And Gran shows on signs she is scared in there, she eat and tries to sticks her head out the front door to look around but she just backs out whenever anyone tries to close the float behind her. Forget about getting the tail gate up. What's more is I do horse stuff on my own so I need a horse I can load on a float on my own. Right now that's just impossible. Three people couldn't get her on. Now I've got to get a professional trainer in to sought this out. If not I'm going to have another very expensive paddock ornament!
I cant' win and I don't know if I've been lied to again. Nearly everyone I know thinks I have but I'm so trusting I don't want to believe it. I've been told to send her back and ask for my money back but she's a good horse in all other aspects... if only she'd float! I've been told to take the previous owner to VCAT but that seems a bit extreme right now. I'm so upset about all this and I feel like such a chump. I'm just so upset!
How much is the instructor going to cost me? All for a problem that shouldn't exist. I've asked the previous owner to come and show me how she loads her but I haven't had a response back yet. I hope I hear back soon. If that doesn't work I will get Norm Glenn out to retrain her and if that doesn't work I'll get stat decs from all the professionals and Gran will have to go back.
At the previous owners property I asked if we could load her and the owner said she didn't have time to hook the car up and I believe her; having kids and all. Gran was delivered here and I believed it was for the previous owner to be sure she was coming to the right place - a good, caring home on a well maintained property. She was down in the float when she got here. I was told that they overshot my driveway so did a u-turn a bit up the road at the Bushland Resort and they must of taken the corner too quickly and she went down then. I believed them. I was more concerned about what to do when a horse is down in a float as I'd never been in that situation before and also the owner was so upset I just wanted things to be ok. She was crying and her husband was trying to calm her and I really felt bad for her. I would have been upset too. Gran got up in the float and unloaded herself and just stood there without a care in the world. I thought it was just a bad situation that could have happened to anyone. Maybe I should never have excepted her in that situation but I did. I trusted that it would be ok.
Gran has been here just over a month and a half and I've tried to load her many times and so has my instructor. My whole holidays of riding was cancelled because I couldn't get her on the float to take her anywhere. She will walk in but wont stay there. Gran has had two solid hour long sessions to load with a EA qualified coach and she still wont stay in the float. She's had a number of sessions with me but still wont stay there. The previous owner said she loads fine you just need to tap her on the legs but the getting in the float isn't the problem its the staying on and closing up. And Gran shows on signs she is scared in there, she eat and tries to sticks her head out the front door to look around but she just backs out whenever anyone tries to close the float behind her. Forget about getting the tail gate up. What's more is I do horse stuff on my own so I need a horse I can load on a float on my own. Right now that's just impossible. Three people couldn't get her on. Now I've got to get a professional trainer in to sought this out. If not I'm going to have another very expensive paddock ornament!
I cant' win and I don't know if I've been lied to again. Nearly everyone I know thinks I have but I'm so trusting I don't want to believe it. I've been told to send her back and ask for my money back but she's a good horse in all other aspects... if only she'd float! I've been told to take the previous owner to VCAT but that seems a bit extreme right now. I'm so upset about all this and I feel like such a chump. I'm just so upset!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Gran Teddy Auto Log: #184 - I'm sore and Gran isn't! Progress!
Gran Teddy Auto Log: #184 - I'm sore and Gran isn't! Progress!: A blog-able occurrence. I took Gran for a ride this morning, mainly walking and trot, about even amounts of time and she doesn't seem to hav...
#184 - I'm sore and Gran isn't! Progress!
A blog-able occurrence. I took Gran for a ride this morning, mainly walking and trot, about even amounts of time and she doesn't seem to have pulled up sore. She is definately better in one direction than the other but I don't think that has anything to do with her health, she is just left handed like me.
Me on the other hand am aching like an out of work cowboy. I guess that is progress on both fronts.
We got it out of the way early due to the heat but I'll go do some floating with her this evening. It was recommended I get a rearing bit to make us progress quicker but I am definitely not confident in using one so will leave that to the experts and plod along the way I am.
Me on the other hand am aching like an out of work cowboy. I guess that is progress on both fronts.
We got it out of the way early due to the heat but I'll go do some floating with her this evening. It was recommended I get a rearing bit to make us progress quicker but I am definitely not confident in using one so will leave that to the experts and plod along the way I am.
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