tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post2085614130881507028..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: The Bearable Lightness of Being IIMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-14373345771153916872012-01-23T16:13:25.876-07:002012-01-23T16:13:25.876-07:00First time commenting, though I love the blog!
I ...First time commenting, though I love the blog!<br /><br />I think fear has a lot to do with it. Before I had my child and stopped riding for several years, I was fearless. I was the one that people asked to ride their difficult horses. I'd go into it with crystal clear expectations and no fear at all and the horse would just do it...After kids, I was a knot of fear. Just mounting was a battle of shaking hands, what ifs and muscle locking terror. I completely lost the connection I had previously been able to achieve with almost all horses. Now I ride my horse and my horse alone and I am slowly getting it back. In the space of a year I've gone from spending ten minutes just psyching myself up to mount, to springing on bareback in a halter. I went from being terrified to ride in open fields or to canter anywhere but uphill, to riding everywhere on a completely loose rein. The more my fear dissipates, the clearer my thoughts are and the calmer my horse becomes. The saddle is comfortable again. As I step closer to removing the fear, my horse is becoming calmer, smoother and lighter. My mantra is "fear is not who I am."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-41756750475378322522012-01-22T07:27:51.785-07:002012-01-22T07:27:51.785-07:00Sometimes you'll come across a post that expla...Sometimes you'll come across a post that explains why it was such a nice ride.<br /><br />Your recent series of posts is clearing the clutter for me, and Smokey and I are really the better for it.<br /><br />Even just yesterday during our rearing incident. I knew what I needed - just clarity. <br /><br />Thanks, Mugs.<br /><br />And it worked.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13104422629934443842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-71979875952125810572012-01-21T11:36:15.821-07:002012-01-21T11:36:15.821-07:00@Anonymous
Oh, golly -- I hadn't even thought...@Anonymous<br /><br />Oh, golly -- I hadn't even thought of that!! You're right. Maybe that's the secret all along!LadyFarriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-59449455067888295332012-01-21T07:57:14.454-07:002012-01-21T07:57:14.454-07:00@LadyFarrier,
Well, you know the story about uni...@LadyFarrier,<br /><br /><br />Well, you know the story about unicorns... right?<br /><br />They can only be caught by virgins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-13807175222275428402012-01-20T18:08:25.638-07:002012-01-20T18:08:25.638-07:00A post I just did, which I hope adds to the conver...A post I just did, which I hope adds to the conversation:<br /><br />ayearwithhorses.blogspot.com/2012/01/mind-gap.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-25874534156008390802012-01-20T17:53:35.818-07:002012-01-20T17:53:35.818-07:00hugs == huge
Sorry!hugs == huge<br /><br />Sorry!LadyFarriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-7219691764223947812012-01-20T17:52:06.818-07:002012-01-20T17:52:06.818-07:00Crystal clear thought. That's it, right there....Crystal clear thought. That's it, right there. <br /><br />When we're kids, we don't worry. We haven't had enough of life to be scared of things. We just expect that it will work out. Horses, being telepathic, pick up on that clarity of thinking and just do it. <br /><br />Humans seem to lose it when we hit puberty. Note how nearly every story has trouble in it after the horse we had when we were kids, even if we went through puberty with them. We still had that connection. But the next horse.... sigh. We've heard it, done it, lived it ourselves. <br /><br />Damn. Sex makes us lose our magic! Suddenly our brains are full of other stuff, other worries, wants, and needs. It's too confusing for the horse to sort out, so they tune out and only respond to the obvious cues. The subtlety is gone.<br /><br />High expectations are hugs, too. So many clients say "Wow, I can't believe he's standing so well for you.." and my answer is "I have high expectations!" They laugh, but it's sooo true. <br /><br />At least, that's what I think.LadyFarriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-35249211146456971822012-01-20T16:35:50.017-07:002012-01-20T16:35:50.017-07:00@Ellie:
The most recent one is my horse. Before I...@Ellie:<br /><br /><i>The most recent one is my horse. Before I had her, she was a race horse, then trained by an adult and spent a year at an eventing trainer. I don't think she'd ever been tied without cross ties. </i><br /><br />For informational purposes only...if you're in America and she was a race horse, she almost certainly knew at one point how to tie. You can't use cross-ties in the aisle if you're walking hots around the shedrow; the norm for TBs at the track is tying in the stall for grooming and tacking.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12237668899993749427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-69250715736415025632012-01-20T06:48:03.348-07:002012-01-20T06:48:03.348-07:00I just had this epiphany within the last month.. m...I just had this epiphany within the last month.. my husband, who is an adult rider with zero training but a "oneness" with his horses that is admirable.. just "expects" his horses to do things, and they do.. I looked at him recently and told him that I needed to expect more from my horses instead of trying to rush through thinking the what ifs so much.. great thread on lightness!!Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030821849160346167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-34007273882331888012012-01-19T21:49:36.686-07:002012-01-19T21:49:36.686-07:00Very interesting and accurate. 'They know'...Very interesting and accurate. 'They know' and will perform accordingly. Riding as a child we had no doubts, no worries and the majority of the time neither did our horses. I know that 'half way up' - 'why am I doing this' feeling all too well when getting on. And it's weird - they wait. Horses are so much more intelligent than given credit for.<br /><br />Love your insight!Palominoloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436763284484020962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-89489497496732908582012-01-19T19:37:23.149-07:002012-01-19T19:37:23.149-07:00When you're a kid with horses, unless you'...When you're a kid with horses, unless you've been incredibly unlucky, you generally do not concern yourself with the "what ifs." And if something happens.. it happens as you live in the moment.<br /><br />So, you're not climbing on that pony or horse with a whole bunch of negative luggage. <br />You also don't have a constant barrage of "Am I on the right lead?" Diagonal? Shit.. what's diagonal?" "Why can't this moronic nag understand lead changes?" ...etc.<br />So your indirect communication is much easier to pick up and understand.<br /><br />That changes as you grow older and accrue more experience. It's also compounded by the fact that many others get even more paranoid and plant those negative seeds in your mind. <br />These fears show up in your riding and in your horse's behavior.<br />Plus, you have so much going on in your head that you're cluttering your communication and often forcing your horse to try and sift through a bunch of random babble to try and understand you.<br /><br /><br />I think people forget that animals like equids are so deftly attuned to every bit of body language and vibe that they can pick up on unstated emotions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-14370690568319960332012-01-19T14:36:51.538-07:002012-01-19T14:36:51.538-07:00This inspired me so much I wrote a post in my blog...This inspired me so much I wrote a post in my blog and linked it to this post. http://goldentheponygirl.blogspot.com/2012/01/with-our-powers-combined.html<br /> Hope you don't mind and thank you for the quality conversation as always!Golden the Pony Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15230832980797448174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-56364846452362483432012-01-19T14:13:33.209-07:002012-01-19T14:13:33.209-07:00Back in the summer, I had several people ask me wh...Back in the summer, I had several people ask me what I did to improve my new (leased) horse's ground manners so much. My main reply was that I just expected him to behave a certain way and for the most part that was enough. I think it has to do with the assertive certainty of my body-language when I have those expectations.RuckusButthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14760056031442317243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-11417077932369728262012-01-19T14:05:12.663-07:002012-01-19T14:05:12.663-07:00I do think that the lightness comes from the "...I do think that the lightness comes from the "we think it and they do it". A good kind of anticipation I guess. I do struggle with a horse who wants to please so much that it does get us in trouble in the show pen sometimes. My trainer says "raise your expectation" all the time. It plays in my head like a broken record. Not that I can put it into motion all the time but I am working on it. The more that we are around horses the easier it becomes to act on that unspoken language between us and them. I find myself just metering out discipline without even thinking about it. And them accepting it without freaking out. Someone else posted about thinking about a spook and then the horse spooks. I believe we are our own worst enemies sometimes. I did that very same thing - without even realizing it for weeks at an arena where I was boarding. The horse spooked a couple of times at the end of the arena - so I started waiting and watching for it and he gave it to me everytime. Then I would kick his butt for spooking. It took someone else saying "don't look at the door and he won't spook" it was like magic. I raised my expectation for him to spook and he stepped right up to the plate! Once I forgot about it so did he. I guess raising your expectations can go both ways! <br /><br />I am still out to lunch on whether this type of lightness is what I felt on Mikey. I don't have any connection with Mikey and he has been through several owners because frankly he can be kind of a butt head. He is not a super "honest" horse. I do believe that the connection is part of it. He understood my body language and what I wanted for sure. I think the other part of it is the horse's ability to move "lightly". His way of going, the length of his stride and how he uses his body. The difference between a football player and a ballerina. While a football player can be agile and athletic and perform ballet moves, he is never going to have look or feel of someone with a different body type.horsegeneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614136458074519322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-32481673856211953112012-01-19T13:08:57.181-07:002012-01-19T13:08:57.181-07:00What a great post with lots of great comments. My...What a great post with lots of great comments. My young mare's trainer is in his 60s; he still starts a lot of colts. Sometimes his back is bothering him, but he says that the colts really take care of him on those days. <br /><br />That trainer's intention toward the horses is always 'How can I help you understand?'; I have taken plenty of lessons from a couple of dressage instructors whose intention toward horses is obviously "I will make you". Even if the cue is the same, I have heard that horses can feel your intention. I now try to think in terms of helping the horse, but I am not yet always successful. <br /><br />When riding my young mare out alone, I was told to feel how 'brave' she feels. If she starts to waver, I am to do a complete 180 to 'take away' what scares her - when her ears come forward, I can turn around and try continuing in the original direction. The reason is to show her that I'm listening to her concerns so that she will start to trust me. I'd love to hear about what other people do with their horses along those lines - essentially going with the horse so that they will choose to go with you.Peanuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15241198497115465345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-68924023888331691822012-01-19T12:38:58.694-07:002012-01-19T12:38:58.694-07:00Ha,"I've gotta stop here, my head is goin...Ha,"I've gotta stop here, my head is going to explode." I swear Muggs - Just another incredible topic. I'm fascinated by the thoughtful comments,too. Bif really got me thinking from the horse's perspective. Flipping everything around and experiencing the world as my horse does...Wow. I'm gonna have to read Bif's "I AM BOYFRIEND" blog now too.<br />Human and Equine personalities are involved too. RIDE THE RIGHT HORSE by Yvonne Barteau Is a great book on the subject.horsefarmernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-49550233983145908052012-01-19T12:36:51.837-07:002012-01-19T12:36:51.837-07:00I think you hit the nail on the head. Knowing what...I think you hit the nail on the head. Knowing what to expect=trust for horses and people. So I think if you want your horse to trust you be consistent and therefore easy to predict.<br /><br />When I was putting in the first 30 rides on my pony Bodhi I would start with all these butterflies in my stomach. I would be twitchy and excited and he would be too at the start of each ride. I knew he could be relaxed if I could relax so I started doing yoga before I got on. I would tack him up and walk him out into the pasture and then I would start stretching and doing yoga poses. Even though he was just a colt he would stand still untied and watch me, no eating or walking away. Then he started stretching his neck down and doing that adorable cat stretch horses sometimes do! Our rides greatly improved after that. <br /><br />I don't think horses can read minds though I agree it seems like they can! All this talk reminds me of Clever Hans the counting horse. I am sure you have all heard about him right? I never understood why people were so disappointed when they found out that he could not count. To me the truth was even more extraordinary than fiction; he could read his owner and even perfect strangers so well he knew when to stop pawing. He was reading their bodies even though they had know clue they were even doing anything. I think they determined it was blinking... just wow.<br /><br /> I don't think horses are actually reading what's in our heads but they are reading our bodies better than we could ever imagine. If we could only be so aware of our own bodies then we really could begin to communicate like we did when we were all kids.Golden the Pony Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15230832980797448174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-53668545752132552362012-01-19T12:14:08.500-07:002012-01-19T12:14:08.500-07:00Great post! I've had a similar discussion with...Great post! I've had a similar discussion with a friend over her jiggy mare. My way to prove my point was to mix her a stiff drink and then go trail riding... Just enough to help her relax a little, not get her drunk... It made a world of difference, because she was focused on what we were doing, not worrying about her mare... <br />She was amazed that her horse could behave that wellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-62594252291413909202012-01-19T12:12:07.829-07:002012-01-19T12:12:07.829-07:00dee dee - Tally was a horse I was learning on...di...dee dee - Tally was a horse I was learning on...didn't start out knowing what was whatmugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-1876297960903753172012-01-19T11:32:34.725-07:002012-01-19T11:32:34.725-07:00I just returned from a clinic with Aimee Brimhall ...I just returned from a clinic with Aimee Brimhall that actually speaks directly to this. Wow! http://aimeebrimhall.com/<br /><br />I am in shock at the synchronicity. To much work to catch up on to go into detail. Surfice to say ultimate lightness may be avaialble even to us cranky adults.<br /><br />p.s. Mugs, Tally left you in the duston first mounting. You had to hold her face to make that work. Or am I having delussions of reading?deedee sonnyduo@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-29082834344966763702012-01-19T10:02:48.726-07:002012-01-19T10:02:48.726-07:00When I was first training Msytery we would be trot...When I was first training Msytery we would be trotting out on the fireroads and he would spook at nothing. It got to the point I would dred going around any corner. My friend gave me some great advice I use to this day..she said 'expect him to behave, expect him to not spook, expect him to go where you want him to go' and I did. That day and change of thought / attitude was a breakthru for us both...MysteryTheMorabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02660195958410144665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87751817469491636492012-01-19T10:00:48.742-07:002012-01-19T10:00:48.742-07:00Really good thought train here.
I'm staring ...Really good thought train here. <br /><br />I'm staring as a dog handler/trainer - pretty much the old novice in this field. <br /><br />I believe that actual 'lightness' has something to do with it. <br /><br />I assist with classes that are working basic obedience. The walk and trot of the dog world. <br /><br />Every pair is different of course, but the goal is really the trust relationship. (I started with an abused dog, this colors everything I think about)<br /><br />The biggest challenge to a trainer is handling the handler. It's really hard to impart when to be soft and when to be 'hard.'<br /><br />Soft is a word, a body gesture - soft is tone and expectation - hard is then the correction, that quick pull and release on the collar/ chain that imparts *I mean it.* <br /><br />Too many handlers go right to the hard, without working the soft first. Most of these have 'tough' breeds. <br /><br />Then they wonder why their dog is 'disobedient' when they've never really worked out with the dog what the expectation of behavior is. The dogs end up all over the place, never knowing what to do but knowing that yank is just about to hit them. I see a lot of these animals in shut down mode, just spending the time on end of that lead in a zombie state until they can go home and be dogs again. <br /><br />It breaks me a little, as a trainer, to watch someone disregard my soft advise and go right to jerking the chain around. Dobermans, those big tough dogs with the tough rep? Are really soft dogs. Pit bulls? Soft dogs. The dogs that want to please you the most are the dogs that people are the hardest on. <br /><br />Not sure if I am going to keep on learning to be a trainer. I have to learn to be hard on the handler, and I'm predisposed to working soft as much as I can. <br /><br />I find myself in an odd place. <br /><br />Love your posts on training and these discussions. Been horse crazy all my days. Working with animals we love...Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15597630887713954960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-68095870259284496722012-01-19T10:00:43.628-07:002012-01-19T10:00:43.628-07:00Just wow. I really enjoy reading all of your posts...Just wow. I really enjoy reading all of your posts, but this one makes so much sense! My coming 4 year old is an echo of me. When I'm up hes up, when Im calm so is he. After a near diasterous ride this past weekend at a Soccer practice, I see that it pretty much was all me. I need to quiet my mind, and expect hime to do what I know he can. Thanks Mugs!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87859542960243389502012-01-19T09:57:49.094-07:002012-01-19T09:57:49.094-07:00Has anyone else had the experience of riding a hor...Has anyone else had the experience of riding a horse and thinking, "Wow, I wonder what would happen if they spooked *right now*?" ..... and then they spook, as if they were reading your mind?<br /><br />I've had that happen two or three times - the thought crossed my mind, there was nothing for the horse to actually spook at, and then the horse spooked.<br /><br />Maybe you achieved the lightness with Mort because you thought in terms he could understand. When you rode Mort, you thought, "I want you to go over there, by that bush." or "Go faster."<br /><br />Now that you're an adult you're thinking things like, "I would like you to collect lightly, so I can round your back and engage your hindquarters to perform rollbacks more effectively" or whatever. You're thinking in terms of the next step, and horses tend to live in the present. Maybe it's too complex a thought for the horse to follow.<br /><br /><br />I don't know if I really believe horses communicate with their minds, or if it just seems like they do. I do think they are so incredibly hyper sensitive to body posture and nuances (and we're so incredibly deaf to it) that for us, it's practically the same thing.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664511837713972115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-70589767849725131232012-01-19T07:54:49.251-07:002012-01-19T07:54:49.251-07:00I'm really, really going to have to think abou...I'm really, really going to have to think about this. Wow.rheatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13106202307295596177noreply@blogger.com