Hello all.
Shilo is home again, I fetched him today.
The loading went well but still needs some attention.
Shilo stood nice and quietly all the way home.
There were no problems at all.
There was a nice welcome home from our other horses- except our mare who didn't seem to want him back.
But Shilo rolled around in the paddock so I guess he feels that he's home again.
I am going to wait a couple of days and then start a daily training / riding session and see how that goes.
I so glad my boy is home again.
Dionne
Good luck, Dionne!:)
Fingers crossed for lots of fun days ahead for both of you.
Thanks Kikki.
Hi Dionne:
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I am happy to hear that all is well after the trip home. I have a thought that I`ll share with you about a new beginning for you and Shilo.
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You mentioned that Shilo found himself at or near the bottom of the hierarchy in the herd at the mustang ranch. He seems to have learned many things that would help him toward bending to YOUR leadership while riding. Horses that view their world from a place of having to FIT IN, I believe, are shaped with less difficulty than herd leaders in a training situation. That submissive mindset seems to be on the lookout for a dominate leader because it makes their world complete and safe.
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.When you bring Shilo back home is he going to be submissive or dominate with his surroundings?
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Dionne, I am in the world of theory here and KNOW that I want the very best for you and Shilo. Before you start up with Mr Shilo, give some thought to who you were before taking Shilo to the mustang ranch and who you are now. I am speaking of how you see yourself as a trainer and partner for Shilo. My thoughts here are that we, as people, have so much LOVE for our horses that at times we stand in our own way to be the leader that is needed in a given situation. That`s precisely why a really good trainer can have fantastic results with our horses. They can dial-out the lovey- dovey stuff and direct their energies toward earning the respect of the horse. Personally, I have to deal with this all the time. I find, that their`s a fine line that can so easily be crossed. Please forgive me, I am rambling now.
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Be THAT leader for Shilo
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My best to you
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Bud
Love it when you ramble, Bud! ;)
Hi Bud. I like it too when you ramble !!
With regards to what you wrote, I have thought ALOT about this from the very first day I delivered Shilo to the mustang farm.
Henrik and I have also talked about it, and I have found a solution which Henrik is happy with and suits my soft heart !
The problems I have had with Shilo in the past have all come from me. I'm ok with admitting it, that's how I come further in my own development.
Shilo's past behavior is the result of ' rubber limits' by this I mean bending the rules. ( not being consequent )
Having a rule one day and not the next is the recipe for disaster.
So, here's an example of how I do things now.
GOAL:- I want to take Shilo into the stable.
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS:- he walks in front of me, he rushes forward at the paddock gate, he rushes in because it's feeding time, he doesn't go to his ' place' in the stable ( I have a very large communal stall which all horses sleep together in)
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From the outset at the paddock gate I have to have control, so I ask him to stand still whilst I take the lead rope over his neck- he doesn't have a halter on in the paddock.
If he doesn't stand still I don't fight . He doesn't come further until he stands still.
When I lead him out of the paddock I use sweet spot- he has learnt this so I can do it with a rope around his neck- if he walks in front of me then I school him.
And this continues in every little step until he is standing in his place eating.
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Henrik has taught me that these tiny things mean so much, I must never let him get away with anything.
However, when he is in the paddock , he is free. I don't ask anything of him there, this is his free place.
It's not a question of shouting or being mean, just quietly asking him to do something and expecting him to do it.
When he knows that he can't get away with a small thing, he doesn't even try the big things.
Henrik says that this translates under saddle, and it does, but I also must do the same when riding.
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This might not be the case for all horses, but as Shilo has a very strong mental attitude coupled with his fysical strength , it is absolutely paramount that I am this way around him.
Henrik says that I can show Shilo just as much love as I always did, but he must do as I say, as long as I keep my requests real .
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Shilo has been home for 5 days, unfortunately it has rained and rained so I haven't ridden him, however , by doing what I have just described, his training continues in everything he does, and as it becomes a habit for me, it doesn't feel like training.
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Sorry for the long reply !!!
Best wishes
Dionne.
Good morning Dionne and all;
Your reply was so ON SPOT...;the narrative of RUBBER RULES was a fantastic description. I do the same thing with my stallions, and I know better. WE MUST HELP EACH OTHER BY BEING STRONG LEADERS WHILE LEADING OUR HORSES. As i mentioned above, THIS IS A FINE LINE THAT IS SO EASILY CROSSED. They are horses and are shaped by how safe that they perceive their immediate world to be, and we are humans in need of their ability to ride on them over the next hill. We will do almost ANYTHING to make that moment happen, but be a strong, consistent leader. That where the waters become muddied.
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The answer, I believe, and you stated this, is to become stronger within ourselves to bring about the what our horses REALLY need. That`s how we can demonstrate our love that we hold for them.
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All my best to you all
Bud
I can so relate to this, Dionne! Great metaphor with the rubber rules.
Who would have thought that being a horse (S) owner would be so all consuming, and i mean in every way.
Yes, the time spent and money is expected , but the soul searching in ones self is something I never expected.
I have been a dog owner most of my life but it can't be compared to being a horse owner.
I have only owned horses for 4 years , and Shilo for only 2 years ( nearly) and I sometimes think that if I am this way now with the thoughts and emotions I have , all of the ups and downs , what will I be like in another 10 years? Completely mad as a hatter probably!.
If somebody had told me that it would be like this before I began this journey I would not have believed them.
I can't understand what I did with my time before I became a horse owner.
I would never have believed how much horses could enrich my life, especially Shilo.
Well now IM rambling.
Goodnight all.
LOL about the mad hatter-future, Dionne! But don't worry! I've had horses for over 20 years, and Bud a lot longer than that, and look at us! :) (Not sure if that made it better or worse, though...) :D :D :D
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With all respect to dogs, (I've had one too), horses tend to get to us in a way we seem helpless to ignore or avoid.
With Churchill's words: "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
I think he was on to something there! ;)
It's a fantastic journey and it's great to share it with you.