Injuries....

Injuries....They are bound to happen.  I had a pretty good riding streak--riding since I was 12.  When you are a kid, you would fall off, bounce back, get right back on and have a great laugh about it.  Now the “bounce” isn’t so much a bounce as it is a deflated ball.  First you have that “Oh no, I’m falling” moment--sort of in slow motion and then plop.  No bounce.  No laugh.  We just think the following:  Can I move everything? Is anything broken? Where are my glasses? Oh, God! I hope no one was watching!  I’m so embarrassed.  Then when you are riding by yourself, it is a little scarier.  Will they find me?  Will my horse run away?  

We do manage to get back on.  Our confidence might be shook a little, but we do soon forget about it.  My first really bad fall was on a horse about 7 years ago.  “Utah” spooked and I got launched and fell right on my tailbone.  I did get back on, but stopped riding after that injury.   I didn’t start riding until I started leasing 3 years ago and then purchased my horse two years ago.  Could that be why I do get a little nervous?

As a kid I was fearless.  My friend Lauren and I often laugh at the stupid things we did with horses as kids.  We often wonder how we survived those years without killing ourselves.  I do credit her for saving my life--one time we rode and gave our horses baths.  We were letting them graze and decided to “build” some crazy jumps.  I hopped on, bareback with a halter and no helmet ready to go for the jump.  Lauren stopped me and made me put my helmet on.  Reluctantly, I did and thankfully I did.  “Dandy” galloped up to it stopped and then popped over.  I fell off and cracked my head.  I was dizzy, but was okay.  Thankfully, Lauren made me wear my helmet.  I would NEVER attempt that now--even with a helmet and protective vest!  What was I thinking?  I wasn’t thinking---I was a kid and thought I was invincible.  

I guess as we get older we start to feel and worry about our own mortality.  As I was saying earlier, I did have a great riding streak without injuries.  Everything happened in a span of two months with Sergio. First a bad concussion and then the infamous mounting block incident.  But I keep going back.  When I talk to my “non-horsey” friends they think I need to stop riding and that it is too dangerous.  When I talk to my “horse” friends we laugh and are all trying to top each others stories about how gruesome and life threatening our injury was.  I feel like I am one of them.  At work, I am made to feel embarrassed about my injuries, but in my circle of horse friends, I am supported--we all are.  In Windy Hollow Hunt, we even have the “Windie Awards”.   Awards for an array of different types of falls.  Bottles of wine are dedicated to the riders and inspired by the falls.  There is also the “Slippery Saddle Award” for the most dramatic fall.  What does that say?  You fell, you got back on and you persevered.    We always say to each other, you will be fine once you get back on.  There is something to that.  Once you are on your horse and riding, you forget about everything else.  You are traversing land, jumps, ditches, water and wild animals.  You do not have time to think about what hurts.  As long as your mind is healthy, you WILL be fine.  I have met so many kind and inspirational people through riding.  They are very uplifting when you are down and understand exactly what you are going through.  This is so prevalent at The Colonies.  What a wonderfully supportive group of people.  

One of my favorite videos “So you think being an equestrian is easy” sums up what we do.  I usually read rather than watch videos, but this is so incredible.  It is worth the time!  I really hope you enjoy it.  

http://youtu.be/eufCY8KHuMA

How do you boost your confidence after a bad fall?  Share in the comments below.  

Happy and safe riding to everyone!  

Herd Meetings

Herd behavior was a concept that I had to get used to.  My horse used to be stabled and turned out with three other horses, in a small, dirt paddock.  He would eagerly await my coming to the barn.  I would walk out to the paddock and he would come right up to the gate for me to get him.  

When I moved him to The Colonies, where they live as they should, things changed a bit. He was in quarantine for a couple days and still trotted up to me when I visited. On the second day, Shayne put Smokey with him, where they instantly liked each other and have become great friends.  Now was the time for him to join the herd.  Sergio ran out--galloping at full speed to the herd and whinnied to them.  He was finally home.  My heart swelled with love and happiness for him.  But I wondered a few things. He didn't really know these horses yet--just Smokey. But he was still so excited. Was it more for the freedom or for the companionship? Why was he so eager to get out there with them? Twenty other horses that were essentially strangers to him? Wasn't he apprehensive? 

Flash forward a few months--Spring to be exact.  The horses had their “Spring Break” on April 16th where they move from their winter enclosure to the huge field.  On Easter afternoon, after spending the day with my parents, I went up to see my beloved Sergio.  I went to get him from the field.  He was as far back as he could possibly be.  When I was about 5 feet from him, he walked up to me--I guess he wanted to save me the extra steps.  I got him and started toward the barn and he started neighing--which at first I thought was cute.  (I used to think that I wanted his neighing as a ring tone on my phone, but that's now NOT the case. Instead--I need a mute button for him.) As were making our way to the barn, he planted all four hooves firmly in the earth and then started to whinny. After asking him nicely he would move forward, but then stop and repeat the process about four times on my way down.  As we got to the barn and I put him on cross ties I could tell he was on high alert. I groomed and tacked him and proceeded to the ring. I attempted to mount him and he circled me around the mounting block. He never does this--something was up. I finally got on and walked him around. I could feel his body, ready to explode at any minute.  He kept looking out towards the field and calling out to his herd. I asked him to trot, but it was very fast---much faster than his canter. What happened to my pokey little Quarter Horse?!?!?! Since I didn't want to ruin Shayne's Easter by having to take me to the hospital, I got off of him when I finally got him to listen to me.  I took him to the round pen and tied up his reins. He galloped and galloped and galloped and galloped some more. He would stop and face the field where is beloved herd was. He even reared up and I thought--oh no this horse is going to try to jump over the round pen walls and hurt himself. (Now I will be ruining the vet's Easter.)  Finally after about 45 minutes of galloping like a nut, he finally slowed down and started to listen to me. 

I didn't understand this. I know he loves his herd, but I thought we had a strong enough bond that he would look to me for protection as "herd leader" when he was away from them. I was crushed. I went home very upset. I looked up articles on what to do. Everything was on how to catch your horse that you can't catch. No problem there. I emailed the expert--Shayne. She assured me it was the spring grass and the new freedom of the big field. Shayne was right and my next couple rides were good and he was back to the horse that I know and love. He does still have a few "herd episode freak outs."  For example, we were working and he was being perfect. A few of his herd members came up from the back forty, for a drink of water. He lost it. He started calling them and pranced around. They walked back and he got more upset. What happened to progress?!?! He calmed down eventually, but I was still aghast. Another day Starfire separated himself from the herd and started incessantly calling to Sergio and Sergio was answering him. These two never seem to interact in the field.  But Starfire came running up to us in the ring and was calling to him. What was the urgency? Was a horse hurt and Starfire was trying to tell Sergio? Was there a lion lurking? Was there a herd meeting and they were waiting for Sergio? I never found out the answer. 

We all know that all of our horses race out as fast as their hooves can carry them back out to the herd when we are done riding them. They do this even if we are all riding together and let them loose together. But why?

These instances have made me really think....what's with the herd?  I found a plethora of articles on herd attachments, herd behavior, etc. This article is from Equine Wellness Magazine and discusses herd dynamics. It really helped me understand a lot of these issues that I have been having. It is hard wired in our horses to feel the need to be with the herd. The herd provides protection, companionship, socialization and stimulation. 

http://www.equinewellnessmagazine.com/articles/herd-dynamics/

Has anyone else had these issues with their horse? Have you come up with any solutions to this? If you do, please share in the comments section. 

Below are pictures of our horses living happily in a herd.

Procession out to the back field

Horses in the fog and mist 

A very content horse.

Some herd members on watch, while others sleep.

Looking longingly for his herd. 

Stressed? You might be, but your horse certainly is NOT!!!!

At The Colonies, our horses live the life that they were born to live.  They have ample space to run, play, sleep and be horses.  They have no worries in the world, because they live in a herd.  Each horse knows his place in the herd hierarchy and the herd provides the protection they need.  They roam and eat all day, as horses should.  Horses that live like this are healthier, more fit, happier and rarely develop vices.  Weaving, pacing, cribbing, pawing, stall kicking and tail rubbing are virtually non-existent. Why?  They are not bored or stressed!

An interesting article from Equine Wellness Magazine, “How to help alleviate your horse’s stress” by Mary Ann Simonds, makes many important points on how to abate your horse’s stress.  Luckily, we don’t have to do any of them, because our horses are living the way they should live.  Check out at the end of the article the “Eight most important things to a horse”.  I can say that our horses have all of them.  

http://www.equinewellnessmagazine.com/articles/how-to-help-alleviate-your-horses-stress/

Below are pictures of our horses living the good life.  

Freedom to run and have a good gallop!

Together as a herd.

Stressed?  Certainly not us!  Smokey, Chevy and Sergio all napping in the sun.

Watson and Teddy napping.  Actually, Watson getting up and thinking I might have a treat.

Firehorse Inspirations, Attitude is Key

"Ultimately, I am looking for horses that will assist me to assist them to be, do or have whatever they need or want and also assist me in making a difference for other people and horses. I keep a tally board of voluntary participation in different activities so it is quite obvious who likes what. Most thrive, excel and achieve their needs and wants. If a horse doesn’t like or function in this arrangement I find them a home more suited to what they like."
- Michelle Dennis
Click on the word JUMP to see a great clip of teaching jumping AT LIBERTY.  Here is another clip from her DVD:

Here is yet another way to communicate with horses, allowing them to express themselves quite freely.

Michelle's website explains how she developed a relationship with her home herd.  She lives with the horses on the property, and has cues for when she will play with them.  The horses have adequate food and water by grazing and supplemental hay.  To have access to "extra" feed, many have learned to show up when they hear the stock whip (they are on 40 acres, it has to be something that will carry sound), and willingly participate in learning new games and useful tasks.

They will follow her for up to an hour, doing different things.  Those who participate are fed after playtime, they have learned to go pick up their own feed bag (nosebag), bring it to her, and calmly get their extra ration.  Any horses that exhibit disruptive behaviors are shown the gate and kept out of the feeding area.  Needless to say, it is a rare thing, and usually only due to being a newcomer learning the rules.

Seeing the bond that can happen when quality time is shared between species who allow one another equal parts in the conversation has shown so many new possibilities.  What new things has your horse shown you lately?

Sedgefield 2011 eCovertside

Have a look at some of the fun Windy Hollow Hunt had at Sedgefield Hound Trials 2011! (click highlighted words for links)