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Post by beksnjake on Nov 9, 2012 23:23:46 GMT
That makes perfect sense - thanks rhr!! She is settling and by Monday I'll take the fence down any way so that'll help. By the way my friends pony Polly is terrible with gates after the gate at my old yard got electrified "accidently" - if you run an electrified fence closely alongside a metal gate, chances are the tape will touch the gate & the poor horses get zapped! Its a non-brainer really. I spent ages working with Polly last summer as she wouldn't come out of the field atall with L.
Am going to do some more GW with Rosie tomorrow morning after work, while mum hacks out with L & Polly.
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Post by beksnjake on Nov 10, 2012 12:50:53 GMT
What a little superstar Rosie D is She fretted & called a bit when Jake left this morning but settled down once we left for the sand school - he was back to his usual cool dude self thankfully! Took her down to the sand school again and this time took a stick & string. Much better responses. Don't need to do much with the stick but my guess is that Rosie has been lunged a lot in the past and she uses it as a visual cue to move forward, plus she is very responsive to voice commands. Managed again to rub her all over with the rope and use the string over her too. Occasionally needed to move her feet but I think she was really good considering this is all pretty new to her. She is a quick learner and mastered moving her shoulders to change direction in this session. Got some nice trot - sometimes got the head up, knees powering Welsh trot (you can really hear her footfalls when she does that!) but I was able to slow her down and get more forward movement through her shoulder. She doesn't fall out though the shoulder as much as Jake and if her attention wandered, I only needed a light feel on the rope to get her back with me. She's not soft in back up on the ground - reminds me a little of Josh, in that she is all forward, so backing up can become quite emotional for her, whereas Jake has a lot of backward in him. She's getting the hang of lateral flexions too. I use a lot of praise with her & she definitely responds positively. I'm really pleased with today, I know its early days but Rosie has yet to question anything I ask of her. When we walked back to the yard she jumped a few times at something in the hedge, but stayed with me - even nudging me at one point, which I thought was really rather sweet. Walked her back just on the halter & rope with her nose virtually on the floor (apart from the couple of spooks!) - I have had her bridle on too, just as a precaution when leading on the road, but I think I can probably get rid of that soon. Really pleased, actually I'm now gushing aren't I - obviously time for some sleep ;D
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Post by beksnjake on Nov 12, 2012 13:49:39 GMT
Well after being deafened by Jake, I decided to take Rosie to the sand school for some more GW. Had thought I might take her tacked up & maybe ride her home. But because the two of them had been calling to each of the whole time I was out on Jake, I thought I might have a problem getting her to leave the yard (& Jake), so filled my pockets with treats and just took her in the halter. Shouldn't have doubted Rosie - she left the yard quite happily. Stuck once when we stopped & chatted to Heidi (cue furious mugging from Rosie who had worked out I had treats in my pocket!!) but I just used my stick & string to encourage to move forward. She was brilliant in the school. She definitely works off voice cues for walk trot & canter but is quickly picking up my non-verbal cues as well. Got canter today on both reins - guess my energy/intent was better than on Saturday as she just popped into canter really easily for me today. Got some lovely changes of rein by just feeling down the rope (I change hands so I can re-direct her, if that makes sense - will get it on film at some point) - on Saturday she was in my face when I tried this, now she just changes direction without walking over me. Backing up is harder - like I said before Rosie gets emotional about it, but we've got plenty of time to work on that. Then best of all on the way home, I could hear a tractor or similar behind us. I moved into a driveway and just stood quietly with Rosie - I wasn't sure how she was going to react. She did jump (huge!) as the Cat suddenly appeared round the side of a building (I hadn't realised that the building was there/would hide the Cat's approach) but Rosie didn't go anywhere and immediately settled once she could see what it was. What a little darling
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Post by heidi on Nov 12, 2012 20:52:35 GMT
She definitely gets my seal of approval! She is lovely
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Post by beksnjake on Nov 13, 2012 13:04:36 GMT
Today we had the vet for vaccinations & teeth. Rosie was very good. Just started to get a bit fidgety as Charlotte was doing her back teeth so we let her move her feet and re-position & then carried on. Charlotte is a great vet (I've known her since she was 16 or so - very driven, was determined to go to veterinary school & specialise in equines!) and has a lovely way with horses, so pleased it was her today.
So then I took Rosie down to the sand-school again - today just in the halter, no bridle or reins - I felt it was interfering with what I was doing in the halter. Mum was concerned that I may not be able to hold Rosie in a halter & rope, so until I got to know her better suggested I take her in both halter & bridle. Well after her antics last night when I tried to turn her out - I can hold her in a halter & lead rope - with one hand, in a wet muddy field, in the lashing rain & wind. This has been the only real problem so far, Rosie just wants to go as soon as we get into the field. She won't leave the yard if Jake is still there but gets a little wound up if I take him out first - bear in mind now they are together, I have about a 20m walk from the yard to the field, so there is very little delay between one going out and the next one going. Will try treats/carrots tonight to see if that helps but if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can make going out less exciting I would be grateful.
As to our work in the sand-school - she is such a quick learner! Today walk, trot & canter on line, didn't need to use the stick & string so much today either. She moves her shoulders out when asked & is stepping out with her hind-quarters too - though I'm working on this to get it softer. Today we also did serpentines from the ground - she just moves as I move, one side was better than the other, when I was on her left, she would rush on abit as we turned to the left so making a complete circle rather than the loop of a serpentine, but once I realised what she was doing & when, I was able to slow her down & get the serpentines.
I jumped around and leaned over her - all without any fuss from Rosie, who just looked at me as if I was an idiot, but allowed me to carry on anyway! Back-up was softer today too.
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Post by quest on Nov 13, 2012 17:32:44 GMT
Wow she sounds a super star.
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Post by redhorseracinguk on Nov 15, 2012 9:48:23 GMT
Great to hear how Rosie is getting on. We found the turning out "excitement" abated when she became settled in completely. It's anxiety more than rudeness, she just rushes if she she's worried that she's not going to let loose.
She did settle, we did have to be firm as I said before because her spatial awareness became a bit 'lacking' when she was anxious in the field. We tackled it by giving her a polo when she stood quietly waiting to have the halter taken off. I didn't allow her to rush, I just kept insisting that she stand politely until I let her off X
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Post by beksnjake on Nov 15, 2012 15:22:08 GMT
Unfortunately at the moment Rosie will not stand still, even for treats - she goes from walking calmly to whirling dervish in a nanosecond. Tuesday night she was cantering round me on a short rope, but she never tries to get away from you (I can hold her with one hand), just won't stand still , which obviously makes taking off the halter very difficult. Her anxiety seems to be triggered by the electric tape & having to walk through a tape "gateway". So we have now removed the electric tape and I'm going up a bit earlier to put then out in daylight, to see if this helps. Even tough we do have a light in the field I think the fact that the yard is in partial darkness may be adding to her anxiety. Last night mum undid her halter as she walked past with Jake, expecting Rosie to follow him into the field. She didn't, ended up back in her stable, stood with her head in the corner! Mum led her out with a lead rope round her neck to guide her & she still took off as soon as she saw the electric fence. This is the only "problem" I've had with her - in every other respect she has been perfect, so I'm not worried, this will settle down, I'm just keen to find a solution that works!
Today we had the farrier and Rosie was a total angel, she totally won him over. He says her feet aren't the flattest in the world and with a little reshaping over the next few months the front ones will be a little less splayed - he refitted the back shoes too!!
Then with our new(ish) shoes & road pins we went out with mum & Jake. Did The Five Bells circuit, Rosie was a superstar through out - at one point as we approached Parsonage Farm (for those local to me), we could hear a large vehicle reversing & moving forward & then reversing again. As we came round the corner we could see it was a large JCB type thing with a huge scoop on the front brushing the farm driveway. The driver saw us and stopped, so we walked past and Rosie didn't even look at it. The driver did start scraping the road again before we'd really got far enough past him and Rosie gave a little jump - that's all! We also met an oil tanker and again Rosie just tucked in along side Jake in a driveway. No stress, no drama! Mum thinks I've been pretty good too, but that's the thing - I'm not worried or scared sitting on Rosie - I get a good vibe from this mare (not that I don't from Jake!) even though she is still an unknown quantity but its hard to explain, it just feels right. That's why the minor issue with turning out doesn't overly bother me - she's only been here for 10 days, though it feels like she's already part of the family.
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Post by redhorseracinguk on Nov 15, 2012 16:14:10 GMT
Good stuff about the hacking out and the digger et al. I suppose the anxiety will abate, she had quite a way to walk to her field here too, so I guess she had settled a bit more by the time we got to the bottom field lol. I really think she's landed on her (flat lol) feet with you and I always liked her. She's definitely got more pluses than minuses as you've said. I love hearing about you and Rosie, you really do seem to 'fit' Give the big girlie a hug from me and I can't wait to come down and see you next year!! Xx
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Post by quest on Nov 15, 2012 19:31:01 GMT
Necks, try doing the friendly game with some white rope and then some electric fencing, but be prepared to o very very slowly. When I first had a white rope and went to catch Nancy she ran a mile and I had to do quite a lot to de sensitise her to white. She now understands that if I'm there white tapes are safe, or I direct her away from them.
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Post by beksnjake on Nov 15, 2012 20:01:46 GMT
Daylight made no difference - she still tries to take off as soon as you approach the entrance to the field. Tomorrow I will just put the lead rope round her neck, no halter and lead her through the entrance, that way I can just slip the rope. I know this will settle in time, but Heidi will be doing them for me over the weekend (me & mum are off to see the Spanish Riding School, Carl Hester & other Olympians at the NEC - mum booked it just after we lost Josh) so I want things to be as stress free & safe as possible. I think the problem is "electric" rather than the white of the tape - she is very suspicious of any type of electric tape whether it's live or not, but is Ok with ropes white or black. But again its something that can be worked on. Still can't believe how brilliant she was with that digger this morning
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Post by beksnjake on Nov 16, 2012 15:30:07 GMT
So mulling over yesterday & quest's suggestion about friendly game, I came to the conclusion that perhaps what we need to work on is the squeeze game or a variation of as Rosie is rushing through the gateway to the field. So practiced with Jake first (lovely as always!) then took Rosie down to the school - all this walking I shall be so slim & fit!!
Have no problem getting Rosie to walk through any gateway other than that to the field. She is calm & walks nicely through the yard gates & the ones to the sand school - even if I make the opening quite small. Worked her in the corners of the school, asking her to stop & wait for a few seconds as she approached the corner, then circle away again. Made the circles smaller so she has to "squeeze" past me. Only got a bit of tension once or twice when she felt I'd perhaps asked her to halt too soon!
Nice calm quiet walk back to the yard, so thought I would continue the momentum through the yard into the field. Nope, no way - she planted and would not move. So I think there is perhaps more than one thing going on here. She doesn't want to be in the field on her own without Jake. And there is something about field gate entrances that makes her very anxious. Anyway off back up to the yard now - thick fog!! Could be interesting . . . . . . .
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Post by quest on Nov 16, 2012 17:38:20 GMT
Try the squeeze game through the field gate. Have mum and Jake and both practice. It may help Rosie to see Jake coping well.
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Post by beksnjake on Nov 16, 2012 19:25:24 GMT
Good idea quest. Although interestingly we have found that if loose Rosie won't follow Jake into the field, but she'll stick like glue to him in the yard - it's all very puzzling.
She was marginally better this evening - had lead rope round her neck but I had to use my stick & string to drive her forward. I had worked on this in the sand school earlier, so I could move her left & right etc. She still takes off as she gets into the field, flat out, does half a circuit and then stops and grazes. So that suggests to me that the anxiety settles quickly once she's actually in the field.
What did make me smile was Jake trying to play with her & discovering to his huge disappointment that mares don't! So he settled for a good roll instead ;D
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Post by el on Nov 17, 2012 16:21:00 GMT
Is there any way there could be a light electric current running through ground / damp ground near the gate entrance? Has the fence earthed at all? I had a mare who was very sensitive to this type of thing.
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