tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post5518308942906899796..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: Horse Stories/Sonita/ Chapter 2Mugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-16836396512809443672008-06-30T16:53:00.000-06:002008-06-30T16:53:00.000-06:00Ohhh, now that's catchy!Ohhh, now that's catchy!Whywudyabreedithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12069453160852561143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-80007581694127823292008-06-27T16:49:00.000-06:002008-06-27T16:49:00.000-06:00Thanks Gillian, I love to ride like Ben Cartwright...Thanks Gillian, I love to ride like Ben Cartwright. I'll get cranked up at work and bebop around my students singing the Bonanza theme song at the top of my lungs.<BR/>I know it doesn't have words, I make them up as I go...<BR/>"Think of the song...and sing<BR/>Little Joe's hot, <BR/>but I'm not, <BR/>I'll take Hoss,<BR/>He can't ride,<BR/>by my side,<BR/>so I'll run him down....<BR/>you get my drift.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-4554907291893625262008-06-27T14:05:00.000-06:002008-06-27T14:05:00.000-06:00I've tried two things you've mentioned. Gathering ...I've tried two things you've mentioned. Gathering a horses face towards me for mounting is one. I've been pretty pleased with the results. Even my noodle necked arab eventually decided she'd rather spend her time stopped than turning in circles. The thing I really like about it though is I dont have to do much. I just hold the rein and they can either move or not move. Then, when they stop, I let them straighten out, pause, and then down to business.<BR/><BR/>The other thing I started doing, also with my noodle necked and poorly balanced arabian is the "ride like Ben Cartwright" thing. I dont have quite as far I can go and with the arabian mare I do it at a trot but she's really gotten a lot better at balancing and going at the speed I want her to. The field I ride in is about 0.8 miles around but even if I only trot one or two sides it really helps her balance. <BR/><BR/>I'll keep you posted as I have the opportunity to try more of this stuff out.gillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12116128687769268871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-7705558130639973152008-06-27T12:34:00.000-06:002008-06-27T12:34:00.000-06:00just found your blog, and I am already in love! I ...just found your blog, and I am already in love! I would love to give your training tips a try as I have a 6 year old appaloosa that really really wants to be a wp horse! And seeing as how I am a H/J...this could get interesting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-30789604773777029282008-06-27T09:22:00.000-06:002008-06-27T09:22:00.000-06:00Heheh...ok, ok :) I was already wonderfully happy ...Heheh...ok, ok :) I was already wonderfully happy with how you wrote it. I'm really really sorry, I'm just trying to translate in my head. Not trying to get technical at all. Love the lunch bit :)austriancurlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015633298952678666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-42593525149301203362008-06-27T09:08:00.000-06:002008-06-27T09:08:00.000-06:00It can be anything you want to call it. I will alw...It can be anything you want to call it. I will always let you how I interpet a maneuver. In all reality, I train on a horse, in my head. So what's really happening is,I'm thinking to myself, and it goes something like this "OK, we just finished that leg thingy, now I have to get the butt thingy sorted out. I wonder if I have time to go out for lunch?"<BR/>If you guys get too technical I'll just start teaching my "Thingies on Horses" techniques....cool, I feel a clinician being born...mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-54548605840265048072008-06-27T08:59:00.000-06:002008-06-27T08:59:00.000-06:00ugh...ok, I know I shouldn't get bogged down into ...ugh...ok, I know I shouldn't get bogged down into terminology, but I think this would be a Travers? But, then again this is post was about turning on the forehand, so I don't want to be a bad poster and turn it into a discussion on the leg yield *blush*. Sorry.austriancurlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015633298952678666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-3552160462943084782008-06-27T08:44:00.000-06:002008-06-27T08:44:00.000-06:00Austriancurls-Just to keep it clear-For me, a half...Austriancurls-Just to keep it clear-For me, a half pass has the nose tipped slightly away from the direction being travelled.<BR/>Then your horse will be following his shoulder on the diagonal line.<BR/>A leg yield has the nose and neck lined up with the shoulders. The hips will be first to step into the new line of travel, so the movement becomes forward from the haunches, instead of following behind the shoulders.<BR/>Eventually, I have my horse's nose tipped into the line of travel.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-24204770234363064712008-06-27T08:27:00.000-06:002008-06-27T08:27:00.000-06:00Cool, Ok, a leg yield is a half-pass then, when th...Cool, Ok, a leg yield is a half-pass then, when the outside legs cross in front of the inside legs and the body is held straight (not a shoulder-in or shoulder-out).<BR/><BR/>And, what I learned then is the initial steps for the turn on the front end where applying my left leg back toward the back cinch (or I would call the third position behind the cinch) pushes the haunchs to the right as you describe. OK, I got it :) This is the next step I needed, as I can make the hauches move, just not in motion performing a turn on the forehand.austriancurlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015633298952678666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-56841351118344062992008-06-27T08:05:00.000-06:002008-06-27T08:05:00.000-06:00austriancurls-I'm not sure how we're saying anythi...austriancurls-I'm not sure how we're saying anything different..If I want to move the haunches over I apply one leg.<BR/>Left leg pushes haunches right, right leg pushes haunches left.<BR/>My leg is at about the back cinch.<BR/>Which would be 6 to 10 inches behind the cinch.Whatever works.<BR/>A leg yield would be continuous motion guiding the horse in a diagonal line across the arena.<BR/>His body is facing the end wall, and the head and shoulders stay straight. (On both horse and rider)<BR/>If I have to tip the nose to the outside to help them I will, but the horse needs to be comfortable moving diagonally while holding himself in a straight line before I lead change.<BR/>My inside leg acts as a support, so I don't get heavy handed while maintaining the straight of my horse.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-50012431897582101832008-06-27T07:39:00.000-06:002008-06-27T07:39:00.000-06:00Hmm...I think what I described was what you call a...Hmm...I think what I described was what you call a "leg yield"?<BR/><BR/>I have the problem here that I know the german names for the terms, but not the english really.austriancurlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015633298952678666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-64152734127818328002008-06-27T07:26:00.000-06:002008-06-27T07:26:00.000-06:00Mugwump:I enjoy your Sonita story, and I'm thrille...Mugwump:<BR/><BR/>I enjoy your Sonita story, and I'm thrilled to read through training tips on turning on the forehand. This is the kind of level I'm looking for after spending 3 years intensively working with a Western Trail/Pleasure Champion here learning to start horses. The ground work, and getting them to do simple turns, move forward on the walk trot and canter, and shifting their hindquarters, I've gotten down. But, I need more advanced tips like these. I'm going to try out that turn training.<BR/><BR/>I have a question though, is your inside leg on the girth or behind, and if so how far behind? I actually learned to shift the hindquarters (while facing the fence at a diagonal) by laying the inside leg on slightly farther back than the normal leg position. No outside leg pressure was applied. This was initially prepared for with ground work using the end of a lunge whip (the blunt end) and tapping at the point where the leg would be later, and getting the horse to shift his hindquarters away from you.austriancurlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015633298952678666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-71670263137312014942008-06-27T07:25:00.000-06:002008-06-27T07:25:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.austriancurlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015633298952678666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-32200872860610266122008-06-26T21:49:00.000-06:002008-06-26T21:49:00.000-06:00fssunnsd- Thank you! Can't wait to hear..fssunnsd- Thank you! Can't wait to hear..mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-1492470536733120492008-06-26T16:46:00.000-06:002008-06-26T16:46:00.000-06:00Mugwump, I've a question. I just wrote a post on i...Mugwump, I've a question. I just wrote a post on it and I think I kind of have a feel for your answer through your posts, but I'd love for you to address it specifically.<BR/><BR/>What do you really, really love about working with horses? What gives you an ear-to-ear grin and makes you want to keep riding/being around horses forever? If you could do one (or more) thing(s) with horses forever and ever, what would be your favorite?<BR/><BR/>Just curious!manymisadventureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00269126419483167938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-40667865794385142272008-06-26T14:21:00.000-06:002008-06-26T14:21:00.000-06:00Love the stories.Right now I hate vets, vet bills ...Love the stories.<BR/><BR/>Right now I hate vets, vet bills and the things my one mare always finds to maim herself on.<BR/>My mare Indigo always manages to injure herself. This morning she managed to give herself a puncture wound on the back leg and it hit a vein. I found her with blood squirting out like a water jet. An emergency trip to the clinic, a bill and my whole outfit dyed red later and shes alright >:C<BR/><BR/>I hope everyones day in this blog is going better than mine. <BR/><BR/>The story cheered me up.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523660446608394720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-36917661175447243642008-06-26T12:50:00.000-06:002008-06-26T12:50:00.000-06:00I love the stories of your horses...you need to pu...I love the stories of your horses...you need to put together a book.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01312632830564156759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-25427433297120581462008-06-26T12:22:00.000-06:002008-06-26T12:22:00.000-06:00You have a really distinct writing style that alwa...You have a really distinct writing style that always leaves me hungry for more :)<BR/><BR/>Are there any other training tips you're planning to post soon? My horse already knows turn on the forehand very, very well and isn't ready physically for lead changes yet, so I can't really test either, but I would be happy to test something closer to what we're working on!manymisadventureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00269126419483167938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-30222422021608940392008-06-26T11:46:00.000-06:002008-06-26T11:46:00.000-06:00I can't wait for chaper three!I can't wait for chaper three!WPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14169832236203518876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-60583765328003056322008-06-26T10:13:00.001-06:002008-06-26T10:13:00.001-06:00Laura, thank you. I love to write. I started this ...Laura, thank you. I love to write. I started this blog for just that reason.<BR/>I try to avoid the endless drilling, but it still is a job requirement.<BR/>I pride myself in keeping my reined cowhorses sound. Something not many in my profession do. Of course, my horses are also always behind the industry standards.:)mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-11505878781101376972008-06-26T10:13:00.000-06:002008-06-26T10:13:00.000-06:00mugwump, I'll happily give the training tips a sho...mugwump, I'll happily give the training tips a shot (and holler for help if necessary). Reading them, they certainly seemed to make sense, which is more than I can say for some of the training books I've acquired. And Sunny could stand LOTS of turning and bending work, so your timing is perfect.<BR/><BR/>Looking forward to Sonita's next chapter!SunnySDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07591623033468632399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-72461674812640205022008-06-26T10:00:00.000-06:002008-06-26T10:00:00.000-06:00mugwump, In my opinion, you are a seriously good w...mugwump, In my opinion, you are a seriously good writer. That's my professional opinion as the published author of ten books, for what its worth. I loved Sonita's 2nd chapter and can't wait to read more. As for the training tips--its a great gift for those who are in the place to use it, I think. I trained horses for many years and am somewhat set in my ways, but none of what you said sounded wrong to me. Though I did resonate a little with your statement about your ponies being frustrated. I gave up reining and cutting many years ago for various reasons, but one of them was how frustrated the horses got with the endless drilling.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.com