Dollar has been a continual surprise since that first day we went to pick him up. He was a bit thin when he first arrived, not to mention at 4, he is still a youngster with loads of energy. Initially we kept him in a paddock next to Magic while the other boys got comfortable having him around. Once the "boys" settled into having him around, and I was certain I would have no trouble catching him, it was time to turn him loose.
Jack has been having troubles with his digestive track over the past couple of years and so he hasn't been keeping the weight on as is typical for "fat" Jack. Because he and Dollar could both use the extra groceries, we turned them out to pasture together. Every couple of days, we would put a different horse out with Dollar until they eventually became one herd. I notice he does receive the occasional bite so I'm guessing he is a bit cheeky with the other "boys" but overall they seem quite relaxed together.
He has taken to my training program very well and the only thing he still struggles with is standing still - he can be fidgety when tied for grooming, trimming, saddling, and mounting - yes mounting.
Dollar has accepted everything I've asked of him so well, I decided to ride him today in the round pen. I likely would have ridden him sooner, however, the wet weather has turned everything to mud at our place. Gord freshly rototilled the round pen for me, and it has dried up enough to have decent footing. It took a bit of work to have Dollar stand at the mounting block but once he figured it out, he calmly allowed me to stand in the stirrup and lean over his body, rubbing him all over. Once he did that well on both sides, I felt confident about getting on. I just allowed him to walk around, gently turning him to see how willing he was and felt no resistance at all.
The cool thing about all this is that Gord was still using the tractor to rototill a rolling spot for the "boys" in the field. Dollar wasn't worried about the tractor in the least.
Very soon, we will be searching for a forever home for Dollar. He is a very special horse that deserves to find a very special person.
Tovie and Dollar
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Pleasant Surprise
Despite the lousy rainy weather, I was excited to spend the afternoon with Dollar just checking out where he was at. Much to my surprise, he came right over to be caught, haltered like a pro, led to the barn quietly, tied quietly, and then stood quietly while I gave him a thorough grooming. The grooming process is a great way to evaluate any touchy spots a horse may have. He didn't have any - even lowered his head without resistance when asked. He does need a little work on holding up his feet for longer periods of time, but it won't be a problem to trim him when he needs it.
When the other horses left the barn, we brought out all our scary toys; tarp, ball, bag of tin cans, stick & strong, pool noodles, hoola hoop - everything I could think of. Nothing phased this boy - in fact he was wonderfully playful and curious. Obviously, his previous owner did a lot of great work and it was a huge relief to discover he wasn't as bad off as I thought he was yesterday. In fact yesterday I was thinking "what have I got myself into" and today I'm thinking Dollar is going to be a ton of fun.
Not knowing much about the American Saddlebred as a breed, I've been doing some reading. To me, his confirmation and personality are classic characteristics of the breed. To watch him in the field is spectacular as has the most beautiful floating trot and canter that should be an absolute dream to ride.
Based on my observation over these two days; here is my early opinion of why the relationship with his previous owner didn't work out. As I mentioned yesterday, Dollar just turned 4 in early May. He is highly intelligent, and has obviously had some great work done with him. Firstly, I don't think a young inexperienced horse of any breed is good for a beginner, but from what I am learning about the American Saddlebred, definitely not a great breed for beginners. They have a strong influence of thoroughbred blood, making them spirited and sensitive. Combine that with his tender young age and it would be easy to make a mistake when handling. I think Dollar learned to get big and scary and then he didn't have to do what he didn't want to do. Because his big scary behavior doesn't bother me, I just insist that he does what I am asking, and he kinda goes - OK. Often those reactions become habitual and so it can take quite a bit of work to help them unlearn to react with undesirable behavior. Prior to re-homing Dollar, he will need to be exposed to many different situations to ensure he is safe.
He is definitely going to be more fun to play with than I initially thought.
Tovie
When the other horses left the barn, we brought out all our scary toys; tarp, ball, bag of tin cans, stick & strong, pool noodles, hoola hoop - everything I could think of. Nothing phased this boy - in fact he was wonderfully playful and curious. Obviously, his previous owner did a lot of great work and it was a huge relief to discover he wasn't as bad off as I thought he was yesterday. In fact yesterday I was thinking "what have I got myself into" and today I'm thinking Dollar is going to be a ton of fun.
Not knowing much about the American Saddlebred as a breed, I've been doing some reading. To me, his confirmation and personality are classic characteristics of the breed. To watch him in the field is spectacular as has the most beautiful floating trot and canter that should be an absolute dream to ride.
Based on my observation over these two days; here is my early opinion of why the relationship with his previous owner didn't work out. As I mentioned yesterday, Dollar just turned 4 in early May. He is highly intelligent, and has obviously had some great work done with him. Firstly, I don't think a young inexperienced horse of any breed is good for a beginner, but from what I am learning about the American Saddlebred, definitely not a great breed for beginners. They have a strong influence of thoroughbred blood, making them spirited and sensitive. Combine that with his tender young age and it would be easy to make a mistake when handling. I think Dollar learned to get big and scary and then he didn't have to do what he didn't want to do. Because his big scary behavior doesn't bother me, I just insist that he does what I am asking, and he kinda goes - OK. Often those reactions become habitual and so it can take quite a bit of work to help them unlearn to react with undesirable behavior. Prior to re-homing Dollar, he will need to be exposed to many different situations to ensure he is safe.
He is definitely going to be more fun to play with than I initially thought.
Tovie
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Maestro's Trubador (aka Dollar)
Dollar (formerly Trooper), is a beautiful registered, chestnut Saddle bred, who just turned 4 on May 8th, and has changed owners 4 times. My first encounter with Trooper was several months ago, when his well intentioned owner realized she did not have enough experience for such a young; and she called me for help. We had a couple of sessions and while she was already familiar with clicker training for dogs, she discovered the power of clicker training for horses. Based on this, she took boarded him with a local clicker trainer for a couple of months; and took lessons. However, after two months, his behaviour was still unpredictable, occasionally scary, and potentially dangerous. That is when I received the next call for help. This time his owner asked me to take the horse, train him, and then find him a suitable forever home.
Since this was going to be fresh start for this horse, I decided to rename him and chose the name Dollar, the amount I paid for him.
I gave the owner the following two options to consider:
She brings her horse to me for two months of training at my going rate, continuing to pay vet bills, farrier, and deworming, as necessary. If after two months, she decides she truly isn't the right person for him, I give her 1/2 her money back and continue working with him or re-home to recover my costs.
She sells the horse to me for $1.00 and when I feel he is ready to re-home, she gets first dibs on him for the cost she would have paid me for training. However, if she still doesn't think she is the right person for him, I sell him to recover my time and costs, or keep him (don't tell Gord I said this).
Needless to say, she chose option two but was grateful to have been offered the choice of keeping him.
Gord and I went to pick him up today. That is when I discovered Dollar flies back and rears when he does not want to do something you are asking. It gave me the impression that he has learned to get big and scary so people will leave him alone. I also learned he cannot be tied, and when under saddle, he will simply lay down. Aside from that, I did find him to be curious and friendly; and not particularly reactive.
I spent a good hour doing intensive ground work exercises with Dollar until he relaxed enough for loading but it worked, he walked right in. Knowing that he does not tie well, we used a very strong bungee trailer tie and this proved very effective. It had some give but relieved pressure instantly when he wasn't resisting. He trailered exceptionally well and has settled happily in the paddock next to Magic.
For those of you interested in following Dollar’s progress, I will post his progress as we go.
Tovie & Dollar
Since this was going to be fresh start for this horse, I decided to rename him and chose the name Dollar, the amount I paid for him.
I gave the owner the following two options to consider:
She brings her horse to me for two months of training at my going rate, continuing to pay vet bills, farrier, and deworming, as necessary. If after two months, she decides she truly isn't the right person for him, I give her 1/2 her money back and continue working with him or re-home to recover my costs.
She sells the horse to me for $1.00 and when I feel he is ready to re-home, she gets first dibs on him for the cost she would have paid me for training. However, if she still doesn't think she is the right person for him, I sell him to recover my time and costs, or keep him (don't tell Gord I said this).
Needless to say, she chose option two but was grateful to have been offered the choice of keeping him.
Gord and I went to pick him up today. That is when I discovered Dollar flies back and rears when he does not want to do something you are asking. It gave me the impression that he has learned to get big and scary so people will leave him alone. I also learned he cannot be tied, and when under saddle, he will simply lay down. Aside from that, I did find him to be curious and friendly; and not particularly reactive.
I spent a good hour doing intensive ground work exercises with Dollar until he relaxed enough for loading but it worked, he walked right in. Knowing that he does not tie well, we used a very strong bungee trailer tie and this proved very effective. It had some give but relieved pressure instantly when he wasn't resisting. He trailered exceptionally well and has settled happily in the paddock next to Magic.
For those of you interested in following Dollar’s progress, I will post his progress as we go.
Tovie & Dollar
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