Under saddle instructions

Are there really any true hard instructions to training? probably not.

 

 

 

 

As a professional, I would hope that I could do most things right. On the contrary, I make mistakes, I am only human. However, I do take the most pride in training my horses, no matter what the cost (i.e. mentally, physically, etc).

 Why is this? Why am I so particular? Am I really just that arrogant? I would like to step back and realize that the best attitude is “I don’t know everything” but “I can accomplish my goal!’ combination of attitudes. Some of us can focus too much on the bad and not enough on the good. Speaking of that, I want to look at situations that I do not want, especially when it comes to training and producing riding horses.

 

Some of us can focus on what is so bad like training style or bad horses, but in fact those situations are just a reflection of something else. Something the horse remembers, something they learned, possibly from a trainer who didn’t complete the lesson. I want good qualities, like being thorough but not overdone.

Also look for the complete picture of training. Especially for a client, as they are looking for #1 a spectacular ride (consistently) and  #2 a spectacular horse. I can’t let that horse go back home with my demons. I can’t say I haven’t ever cut a corner on a horse in terms of training but at least I can step back and realize I’ve got more training to do on myself. Ok Enough about me, back to my girl, Rainy.

 

Did I say that I don’t necessarily do the right things? Yes, yes I did. But I have some restrictions as well, which I’ll get into. Last night I had the most lovely first ride of my life. It was my girl Rainy. Now Rainy hasn’t had more than 3 saddlings her entire life. She hasn’t had more than 20 significant lessons in groundwork.

 I feel like she has totally accepted these new things and is ready to move on to a new chapter in her life as a saddle horse. She is READY. Some horses take much longer than this to accept the saddle and not squirt around the pen all panicked. That is how you gauge if you can go to the next step. Do they give you the signs that they are relaxed?

 

 In Rainy’s case, yes. She lowers her head and licks her lips. Stands for saddling and while I jump mindlessly at her side as if I decided to perform some jumping jacks. She barely flicks an ear while I lay over the saddle a few times.

OK little red horse you are ready and have been for some time! You act like you have done this thousands of times and “born broke”. Maybe I should be more responsible than this? Put more roundpen sessions on her? Saddle her for a few more weeks before stepping into the saddle? I think not! She says she’s ready. No bridle yet, that just adds to the confusion to all the newness happening, I ride in that halter (barely use it too).

 

What didn’t I do right? Well I forgot to mention that I took her out at dusk… I am basically riding in the dark. Yes, that is irresponsible. I have limitations! I do waste 10 hours a day at a desk/in a car instead of enjoying the outdoors on horseback like I once did. This is a huge limitation for me. I have my goals set and in order to get after them I have to cut a few rules out. I must continue to train, ride, breed my horses, there isn’t another option here. 

Adding to the limitations,  I don’t have an indoor. This makes training for spring events very hard. I make due. I ride in the snow, ice and risk it… only on my own animal, as that is probably the most responsible thing. But you know what? I take it slow too. I don’t want to take too much of a risk as I have my family to care for too. I wear my helmet! I didn’t do this as a teenager, I learned my lesson the hard way. I take my filly SLOW. I remembered as I took my leg over Rainy’s back, I don’t have to push her. She didn’t move a step. I flexed her head. I disengaged her hindquarters. I moved her forward. She walked calmly out. Have I mentioned that I love my filly?

 

The ground was still frozen as we walked over the mounds of dirt in the pen. She did not falter or misstep. I moved her to a trot, she did bit of trot/gaiting! We went the first direction then switched direction. Then trotted the other direction then switched and trotted the other direction. It was great fun!

That was enough. Rather stop early and allow my filly to soak it all in. We halted (off a breath) then disengaged, turned her head loose both directions, then I dismounted. First thing I always do when I had a lesson with a horse is loosen the cinch! They love that.

 

She stood for unsaddling and then went to her herd, she promptly started to “manage” the youngsters as a mare does. She truly is a sturdy, smart mare. One day she will be top mare but not today. There is much to learn on both sides of the fence….or should I say both sides of the saddle.

 

A motivational segment by: Cassandra Rose J

Reserve a Rainy Day a filly to start undersaddle, The origin

Basking in the sun and receiving scratches day in and day out was the high life for Rainy the Rocky Mountain Horse. She started life in a cush paddock, born free and under the afternoon sun. That light shines through today as a young horse in her sunny personality.

Rainy is 3 years old in 2017 and ready to start her under saddle training. Although she has had the basic handling and groundwork techniques performed she hasn't mastered all of them. She still looks at her humans from the ground level... not on top of her like a cougar! All that will change for my little red girl.

Wintertime is always a difficult time to ride, but when you are devoted to the horse business you have to start early as I have other peoples horses to ride over the summer. Winter is when I can actually enjoy my own animals. I thoroughly enjoy Rainy. This Blog will be about my horse business and specifically the undersaddle work I will be doing with Rainy. But let's digress and talk about why this filly is so special to me.

Reserve a Rainy Day is her registered name with the Rocky Mountain Horse Association (RMHA). Her Dam is an old mare (born in 1991) named Smith's Misty Rose. Misty is kind of crabby, mareish and the best mother there could be. She is entitled to her opinions and I will tell you why in just a bit. This old mare produced over 20 foals... I do not think I have known of any other mares to make that many in their lifetime. Misty is still with us but I do not think she will produce another foal due to the shape of her uterus. She will settle a pregnancy but it will slip due to a minor infection. This is so unfortunate because everyone that I know of that has owned a Misty foal has loved them! They are trusty mountain trail horses as well as the best companions. I definitely wanted more than one! I have Rainy therefore I am very lucky.

What do I know about Misty? She must have been broke out as a 2 or 3 year old just to get gait certified with the RMHA. I would assume she did not get a natural horsemanship upbringing. This is a conversation for later as I found many Rockies are broke in a traditional fashion and are affected very differently for their entire lives. I will speculate she may have been ridden for a week or two, then most likely turned out.

At this time it was common to turn your Rockies out in the "Strip Joint", a large portion of Kentucky that was devoted to coal mining and horses were turned out free to roam and graze on a large mountain top acreage since poor RMH owners did not have much. Misty lived here during summers. As a 3 year old she was bred to Nuncio (presumably) and foaled out a popular stallion Fox Hall's Moon Dancer, sire of The Comet. Many, Many grand foals were produced with these lines. Misty most likely was not ridden again but produced foal after foal. She really stamped her protégé with a strong body and mind.

Misty stayed in KY for most of her life until she was purchased by a client of mine that bred her to Duke of Gold, a palomino stallion. She was 22 years and may not be able to produce many more babies so my client donated her to my newly developing breeding herd. She was bred to my young stallion, R Squared Special Reserve, a chocolate stallion out of a Maple's Squirrel mare. I feel lucky to own this stallion as well as he has been lovely and has the old lines I love.

Rainy was born on the afternoon of June 11th, 2014, after a decent rainstorm the night before. The mare let the ground dry up all morning and dropped her foal outside in a nice dry spot under the barn's eve. Rainy was a strong foal! She was imprinted and handled daily. Misty protected her well and allowed us to handle her foal like her many before Rainy. We watched her run for the first time, legs went everywhere! But what movement! As Rainy and her sister (Coby- born 2 days later from another grand old mare) grew, we trailered them and gingerly exposed them to the world. We typically handle them just enough, they receive trimming, vaccinating and routine haltering. Even though these two foals were full of life from the day they were born, they are the most loving creatures now.

From the past paragraph you may deduce that Rainy was spoiled, not too much, but yes she was groomed and fed premium feed and given treats. She was spoiled. We adore her. She is my stallion's first foal and the first one I get to ride. She will not only carry on Misty's legacy but be the riding and fun loving horses Misty was not allowed to be.

In January, Rainy (as seen in the photo) was saddled for the very first time. She was prepared with a rope and desensitization. Did not even flinch... I saddled her.... Did not flinch..... I moved her feet.... did not buck..... What??? I love her. Did I mention this is winter in Wisconsin, so the ground is not the best for colt starting. She is very aware of this and did not execute unnecessary movements that may undermine her ability to stay on her feet.

Second saddling session: UNEVENTFULL sorry for the poor, anti-climatic conclusion to my blog but to tell you the true gentle nature of my filly, she cantered with a saddle on as well as allowed me to put weight in the saddle. She did this like an old broke horse would do. She did not move a muscle, or even breath deeply like she was holding her breath. She unquestionably accepted anything new I tried. I think she truly trusts me... BUT my professional nature will not allow me to take a risk with even Rainy. Stay tuned for next time... maybe I will step into the saddle?

Thanks  for reading!

Cassie Rose