Since my last entry, so many wonderful things have happened in my horse world that I've wanted to share. My only excuse is that I am technologically stunted and last year this blog site changed drastically. I would login to write something up only to shut it down in frustration because I couldn't navigate the page easily anymore. Here at Just Horsing Around, last year was our busiest year yet and so taking the time to figure out new technology was easy to forego.
For those of us that don't have access to an indoor riding arena; it is easy to ask too much of our horses too soon. Our horses have been happily hanging out with their buddies over the winter, with little to no interaction with us. Combine that with the high sugar content of new spring grass and preparing our horses to do our bidding can sometimes be a daunting task. The amount of work required varies from horse to horse but effective, purposeful ground work will connect you and your horse before you mount up - saving you a world of hurt.
Every spring you will hear stories from folks that pulled their good 'ole reliable horse out of the pasture, saddled-up, and as soon as their horse lost sight of its buddy or something spooked them - all hell broke loose.
Several years ago, I attended a Jonathan Field clinic in May with my horse Nugget. It was during that clinic I learned one of the best lessons of my life. Jonathan taught me how to read my horse - when he wasn't ready to ride, but even better - when he was. Nugget had been my primary riding horse for a couple of years, without any major problems; but that day it took me 3 hours of intensive, purposeful ground work to get Nugget's mind in the game. The good news was that I never had to work that hard with Nugget again.
Whether it be neglect due to busy lives, or weather, or too much sugar in the new spring grass; learning to read your horse and knowing what exercises you can do to help them get in the game with you will boost your confidence the same way it did mine.
The only cure for spring fever that works for me is to get outside and play with my horses - safely!
Happy Spring
Tovie
For those of us that don't have access to an indoor riding arena; it is easy to ask too much of our horses too soon. Our horses have been happily hanging out with their buddies over the winter, with little to no interaction with us. Combine that with the high sugar content of new spring grass and preparing our horses to do our bidding can sometimes be a daunting task. The amount of work required varies from horse to horse but effective, purposeful ground work will connect you and your horse before you mount up - saving you a world of hurt.
Every spring you will hear stories from folks that pulled their good 'ole reliable horse out of the pasture, saddled-up, and as soon as their horse lost sight of its buddy or something spooked them - all hell broke loose.
Several years ago, I attended a Jonathan Field clinic in May with my horse Nugget. It was during that clinic I learned one of the best lessons of my life. Jonathan taught me how to read my horse - when he wasn't ready to ride, but even better - when he was. Nugget had been my primary riding horse for a couple of years, without any major problems; but that day it took me 3 hours of intensive, purposeful ground work to get Nugget's mind in the game. The good news was that I never had to work that hard with Nugget again.
Whether it be neglect due to busy lives, or weather, or too much sugar in the new spring grass; learning to read your horse and knowing what exercises you can do to help them get in the game with you will boost your confidence the same way it did mine.
The only cure for spring fever that works for me is to get outside and play with my horses - safely!
Happy Spring
Tovie
