tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post4860113463759594890..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: KnotsMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-15369598847674928162012-01-01T12:12:43.673-07:002012-01-01T12:12:43.673-07:00So... maybe the process is the untying of the knot...So... maybe the process is the untying of the knot, which is likely more important than the untied knot - the end result?<br /><br />Steering has been an ongoing issue for me. Often, instead of focusing on giving the aid more accurately, I would wig out about where I made a turn, or which cone I wanted to arrive at. <br /><br />My trainer would constantly remind me that it does not matter where you are (geographically) in the arena... <br /><br />My personal knots are usually related to hard headedness. ;)<br /><br />Count me in for the book club :)Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-8836034600462627562011-12-31T16:16:43.709-07:002011-12-31T16:16:43.709-07:00The worse knots I have are with me....which keep m...The worse knots I have are with me....which keep my up at nights thinking about them. <br /><br />As for a book club, I love the idea. I will read almost anything. When I don't have a book in hand while eating breakfast I will read the cereal box!<br /><br />I'll send you a list and you can post it if you want, Mugs. Winter is the BEST time for reading!scsarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-40421821404294348122011-12-31T00:02:21.208-07:002011-12-31T00:02:21.208-07:00Ahh - I forgot about my legs - thank you!Ahh - I forgot about my legs - thank you!Peanuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15241198497115465345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-26177870857111524222011-12-30T17:25:31.804-07:002011-12-30T17:25:31.804-07:00Peant - four on the horse and two of your own!Peant - four on the horse and two of your own!mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-57452422642777486282011-12-30T07:54:22.631-07:002011-12-30T07:54:22.631-07:00What a great post with lots of food for thought. ...What a great post with lots of food for thought. I have heard that I should try to 'create' thinking horses, set it up and wait, always give the horse a way "out" of a predicament - not that I'm very good at these things. I have plenty of my own mental knots - it's good to know that it's possible to sort them out. :) <br /><br />My mare often feels like quicksilver to me, so it's easy to get 'behind' her both physically and mentally; I can't yet always feel where all her legs are (and especially not all 6??) Your post draws back the curtain a little more for me.Peanuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15241198497115465345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-1649571746076080582011-12-30T07:13:35.235-07:002011-12-30T07:13:35.235-07:00I book club sounds great!I book club sounds great!Redneck Geologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02012204930776596890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-84898325916764877952011-12-30T06:37:19.894-07:002011-12-30T06:37:19.894-07:00Ooooooooo!!! Love a book club!!!! Perfect!!! And w...Ooooooooo!!! Love a book club!!!! Perfect!!! And we don't have to leave home in the snow and sleet to get together!!!! Even better!!! Well for those of us actually dealing with the nasty stuff.....<br /><br />Yippee!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-29159456891583071022011-12-29T21:39:09.342-07:002011-12-29T21:39:09.342-07:00I'm having a little trouble with the knot anal...I'm having a little trouble with the knot analogy. I think I have always pictured myself showing the horse what I wanted them to do, and having the horse follow my instructions. <br /><br />However, I believe a may have presented a knot to my coming 3 filly. She is slowly started since August, first with a trainer who I trusted, and home with me since November. She is NOT forward. A western pleasure prospect, she finds "whoa" to be her favorite gait. But, she also resents having to be kicked on so much, so I have actually ramped up the level of my leg cues, let her grump about them, but get my leg off of her (slightly) the moment she responds with free forward movement. The knot was "I don't like that leg on me" the untieing was "Oh, when I move forward, the leg is gone." Is that right?burdfourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625759593362599884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-79339982860523580562011-12-29T17:45:51.600-07:002011-12-29T17:45:51.600-07:00Love the book club idea! I just finished reading T...Love the book club idea! I just finished reading The God of Horses by Aryn Kelly. A really intense book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-7358551079139887262011-12-29T12:19:47.863-07:002011-12-29T12:19:47.863-07:00Yes, a horsaii book club would be great. I can vo...Yes, a horsaii book club would be great. I can vote for including "The Sociopath Next Door." A good book, but scary.<br /><br />I like the knot discussion. I think, like Kate, I need some more work on this one. It usually takes me more than two tries for the horse to understand what I'm looking for. Or, I may not be persistent enough.<br /><br />Even though it isn't riding weather here in Michigan right now, I've been having fun with my gelding in the corral while his mares are out in the pasture. He doesn't like it much, but as soon as he "gives" me what I'm asking for, he's done and he gets to go out and play. No ropes or sticks or Parelli stuff, sometimes it's just "stand still by the mounting block" or "follow me and quit watching the mares." It's funny how much quicker he's looking for the answer. I hope I can carry it over to riding in the spring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-35657687816069333902011-12-29T10:15:25.947-07:002011-12-29T10:15:25.947-07:00The problem with knots is that they can quickly pu...The problem with knots is that they can quickly put us into knots ourselves. When I can't resolve something with a horse, I continue to chew on the problem all day, in the shower, driving, lunchtime at work... How could I have explained that better? Softer? More clearly? Why is this a problem to begin with? Is it confusion? Anger? Pain? Disrespect? All of the above? I'm struggling through a serious problem with a horse and can't get it off my mind. Mugs, I'm the one who emailed you privately. This situation is really agonizing and I don't know where to turn. It is dire.<br /><br />The Sociopath Next Door is a fantastic book and a must read.liberitarianqhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09863621142434532735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-22848004981945159082011-12-29T09:28:24.441-07:002011-12-29T09:28:24.441-07:00Do the horse book club!!!!!!!!
I want to recommen...Do the horse book club!!!!!!!!<br /><br />I want to recommend Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen... but then again, I don't. I've never found a book that better explains that magical moment of oneness that happens every once in a long while (the opening chapter where she's riding Harry)... but I absolutely detest the main character. Whiny idiot. <br /><br />Maybe I should recommend it so we can all get together and be catty and bash the main character together?Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09544884349722760099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-64093355995312162942011-12-29T08:52:08.828-07:002011-12-29T08:52:08.828-07:00"I try to do the same thing now. I'm cons..."I try to do the same thing now. I'm consistent but watchful for the slightest try. I only do this with things I do know well, so I don't accidentally tie a double knot."<br /><br />Exactly! Double knots are not really fair. Letting a horse solve the problem takes patience but is so rewarding in the long run. You release on the try if if is the right step in untying the knot. Got to reward for the right thing. <br /><br />I had the pleasure to ride with Buck Brannaman several years ago before the video made all these rabid fans, and this is one of the things he demonstrated by asking a horse to yield his hips. It was about getting to the feet.Mrs. Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07266163739057893568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-6264817623306560912011-12-29T07:25:53.773-07:002011-12-29T07:25:53.773-07:00The Sociopath Next Door is one I read twice, not t...The Sociopath Next Door is one I read twice, not too long ago. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09835027714416386834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-82755766296036273752011-12-29T07:22:56.417-07:002011-12-29T07:22:56.417-07:00Knots? Love the concept. I have always viewed it ...Knots? Love the concept. I have always viewed it as asking questions the horse has to answer but I like your analogy better.<br />Books! I have a good one I just finished reading... or 2 or 3. The $80 Champion was amazing..Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07673248016419731468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-49215891585450177442011-12-29T07:04:46.462-07:002011-12-29T07:04:46.462-07:00I think I love you! I just recently found your bl...I think I love you! I just recently found your blog - followed you over from Fugly. Don't be afraid - I am not one of the rabid rabble. I have now found a home here. I have gone back and read all of the Mort and Tally stories and working my way through the others.<br /><br />You are an amazingly gifted writer who is also apparently an amazingly gifted trainer. Oh how I wish my girls could come learn to ride from you! My biggest frustration is finding a trainer I trust for them to learn from.<br /><br />I love this knot analogy. I am a special education teacher - and I loved this analogy in working with my students, too! Gives me lots to think about today!<br /><br />ChaunceyChaunceynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-33679851989194175132011-12-28T21:40:53.028-07:002011-12-28T21:40:53.028-07:00Been meaning to read TSND, give me a good excuse t...Been meaning to read TSND, give me a good excuse to go get it.MichelleLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-35011321774205580542011-12-28T20:31:41.671-07:002011-12-28T20:31:41.671-07:00A book club would be neat :) I am a long time read...A book club would be neat :) I am a long time reader who never comments:) By the way for all of the book inclined, there is a website I dearly love called ereaderlove.com the woman who runs it (also does free books for kindle on facebook) lists books that amazon has for free (some are limited in number and/or time limited by amazon). I have downloaded OVER 2,400 books so far. Yes grabbing ALL of the freebies is a bad habit of mine, but I download everything possible so I can loan things to my friends :)Wendynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-71499028722780471922011-12-28T17:28:10.933-07:002011-12-28T17:28:10.933-07:00This sounds similar to something I learned in a cl...This sounds similar to something I learned in a clinic. I'm most comfortable with ground work, so I could "see" the knot. The trainer wanted the horse to walk to the right. Horse was not getting it. At. All. The old me would have stopped and tried something else in an attempt to end on a good note. <br /><br />But she kept after him. She explained it like this. She was not giving him something impossible to do, just something he hadn't thought of. He needed to get out of his rut and start thinking. It took a long time, but when he got it you could see his attitude change. From then on he didn't just redo the same thing over and over. He started to think.<br /><br />I try to do the same thing now. I'm consistent but watchful for the slightest try. I only do this with things I do know well, so I don't accidentally tie a double knot. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13104422629934443842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-38001498664470199022011-12-28T16:45:28.567-07:002011-12-28T16:45:28.567-07:00book club!!! i'm thrilled... LOVE to read. Hop...book club!!! i'm thrilled... LOVE to read. Hope it actually happens!Jessicanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-89488167160333403272011-12-28T13:40:38.670-07:002011-12-28T13:40:38.670-07:00Book club yes - any topic from Mugs.
Knots! Ha. I...Book club yes - any topic from Mugs.<br /><br />Knots! Ha. I keep makingthem up and forget to wait for me and him to get it.<br />hmmmmmdeedee sonnyduo@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-22109049015094100422011-12-28T11:49:46.772-07:002011-12-28T11:49:46.772-07:00Book club! Book club! Sounds like tons of fun!
I ...Book club! Book club! Sounds like tons of fun!<br /><br />I like the knot analogy... My biggest struggle in my training is so stick with one knot and now throw a whole tangled rat's nest at my horse. Simplify!RHFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02513212465360292806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-64995570503810334902011-12-28T11:29:39.829-07:002011-12-28T11:29:39.829-07:00Good post...the analogy is perfect/easy to underst...Good post...the analogy is perfect/easy to understand...now I'll see if my brain can kick in!gtyyuphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02402170522183324256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-51580792127424505992011-12-28T09:41:25.711-07:002011-12-28T09:41:25.711-07:00Kate - just start ith little knots...my competence...Kate - just start ith little knots...my competence is coming slowly and with great agony...mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-46978002125004518322011-12-28T09:37:01.568-07:002011-12-28T09:37:01.568-07:00Very good post. I envy you your confidence and co...Very good post. I envy you your confidence and competence - I'm a long way from being able to present knots to my horses in an effective way or to disentagle my own, although I expect I'll just keep on trying - it's fortunate that most horses are forgiving of mistakes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com