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Post by beksnjake on Jul 11, 2011 19:12:38 GMT
Ponying is quite a skill!! One I have to say I have only had to use in an emergency (had to pony Polly off Jake - both I have to say were incredibly well behaved, but then my energy was very positive as I knew I had to get both horses home!!) Cash is certainly a quick learner - in the last pic they both look more comfortable with the task at hand.
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Post by breakfast on Jul 11, 2011 19:29:32 GMT
Cash just didn't want to follow a feel off the halter, so by the last one I was using a stick to put a bit of energy behind him when he tried to drop back. I think I'll work on that from the ground, doing some of the stuff Steve was doing with Ferrum and Raz at the last clinic just so that we can get that forward a bit more confirmed before we do more ponying.
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Post by kas on Jul 12, 2011 8:39:13 GMT
I've come to a halt on ponying. I think we're ready, but to be honest I can't face taking them out on the lanes, so probably won't take it further. I love reading the diaries, I don't often comment, but look in regularly.
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Post by nicxf on Jul 12, 2011 10:27:28 GMT
hehe - looks like a fun session and a new thing for all 3 of you to be playing with.
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Post by breakfast on Jul 23, 2011 23:18:22 GMT
We had our first solo hack today. 2.9 miles. Cash was very anxious on the way out, we had to boggle at lots of things - traffic isn't scary, wheelie bins aren't scary, storm drains are highly suspect as are white spots on the road and something else. I don't even know what the scariest thing was. Maybe a tree root or a bit of different coloured sand. Cash had to leave a couple of times before we managed to pass it.
Funnily enough most things were a lot less scary on the walk home. Except those white spots on the road. Those things never let up.
On the whole, very pleased with the little fellow. I couldn't have asked for more.
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Post by el on Jul 24, 2011 7:47:59 GMT
Brilliant!!
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Post by snigsby on Jul 24, 2011 8:47:22 GMT
Clever boy,Cash! I sometimes think that Khan boggles at different things on the way back because he is seeing it with the other eye.......
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Post by breakfast on Jul 26, 2011 21:58:00 GMT
Almost certainly correct, Snigsby - horses' eyes aren't well connected from side to side. A message from one can take a long time to get to the other.
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Post by breakfast on Jul 26, 2011 22:01:30 GMT
Today we went out for a short ride with Small. It was a bit on-and-off because we were going down a steep valley and I don't think he has the balance or strength to carry me over that type of terrain yet, though he's getting better all the time. Also he wasn't brave enough to cross the stream with me in the saddle and I didn't want to argue about that this time.
This did mean he got plenty of practice with me getting on from the ground - so easy on a pony sized horse - and leading up while we were out on the trail.
Basically he didn't put a foot wrong at any point. He felt like he had been out doing trail rides all his life. Small was a great responsible adult and Cash is a tremendous little pony.
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Post by el on Jul 27, 2011 7:06:26 GMT
Brilliant. He's turned inside out really hasn't he?
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Post by breakfast on Jul 27, 2011 10:33:56 GMT
He's a very fast learner and a very genuine, sweet natured horse so he tries his little heart out and he's doing absolutely great as a result.
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Post by snigsby on Jul 28, 2011 8:46:37 GMT
Regarding horses' eyesight, is each eye connected to the opposite hemisphere of the brain? Horses have left and right brains like we do,don't they?
I'm just wondering if this might influence what they spook at.
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Post by breakfast on Jul 28, 2011 10:30:02 GMT
I think the biggest difference is that because they don't use stereoscopic vision in the way that animals with forward-facing eyes do, their Corpus Callosum ( the part of the brain connecting the hemispheres ) acts very slowly compared to that in a human, so it can take up to 45 minutes for a message from one side to get to the other.
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Post by breakfast on Jul 31, 2011 23:30:59 GMT
Today I took Cash out in the evening just for a short hack. I was planning to go to the stream we crossed the other day, but he wasn't ready for that on his own yet. We made step by step progress along the end of the road, which I think is actually him just wanting to go home more than being actually afraid of anything. We got around a short loop ( I don't like to turn around on a trail we might want to go straight down later if I can avoid it ) and he was fine, but when he pretty much dragged me back onto the yard, we went to the school instead of taking him back to his field and we worked briskly until he remembered that I'm the one who does the steering.
I will look at this again next time we work together and expect it to be better after that...
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Post by el on Aug 1, 2011 13:06:18 GMT
interesting! Looking forward to hearing how you progress
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